NEWS

Andrei Kadomtsev The collapse of the OPEC+ deal, coupled with a drop in demand amid the raging coronavirus pandemic, has sent tectonic shocks across the global oil and gas markets. Simultaneously, attacks on the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project have intensified again. The global demand for oil had …

Irfan Takalvi As the world grapples with COVID-19 and ponders over its ultimate toll, it may actually turn out to be a pandemic plus kind of a scenario for some people, countries and regions. Lingering conflicts, already prevalent diseases and natural disasters – on top of a host …

While the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, its implications are more far-reaching and could threaten global peace and security, the UN Secretary-General told members of the Security Council in a closed video-conference held on Thursday. António Guterres said heightened solidarity is needed if the …

Joseph Zeballos-Roig The White House is seeking to reopen as much of the US economy as it can by April 30, the deadline for strict social-distancing measures, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. President Donald Trump had earlier suggested reopening the economy on April 12 but pushed the …

Markets abhor uncertainty. The coronavirus pandemic is a severe supply shock that will substantially reduce the world’s economic output, and there will potentially be several waves as the contagion returns in the autumn or spring 2021. Many governments are trying to form a bridge over the lockdown period …

What tools does the government have? Whenever the government substantially intervenes in the U.S. economy, you can bet there will be commentators worried about inflation. Nine times out of 10, I’d be inclined to agree. But not now. That’s because it’s increasingly apparent that we’re headed toward an …

Ryan Brewer Here’s a quick primer on the U.S. central bank, how it works and what it’s doing to keep the economy from sinking into depression. The United States Federal Reserve has committed to do everything it can to save the financial system and the American economy from …

Paul Heer  Will Beijing and Washington work things out? It is too soon to tell what net impact the COVID-19 pandemic crisis will have on the U.S.-China relationship. Several indicators point toward an accelerated deterioration as the two sides point fingers of blame at each other and compete …

Harry Kazianis 17 million people out of work mean millions can’t pay their mortgage. Sadly, the aid that is out there could spawn a foreclosure crisis of historic proportions. In just the space of three weeks, the United States has lost more jobs—over 17 million—than were lost in …