Tag: Global

War in Ukraine could halve 2022 global trade growth: WTO

  by Robin MILLARD Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Russia’s war in Ukraine could almost halve world trade growth this year and drag down global GDP growth too, the World Trade Organization projected Monday. The WTO said that the Russian invasion had not only created a humanitarian crisis of “immense proportions” but had also dealt a “severe blow” to the global economy. It also said that in the longer term, the conflict could […]

Equity and oil markets slump on Omicron panic

  by Roland JACKSON Agence France Presse Global equity and oil markets slumped Monday on investor panic over the impact of worldwide measures to contain the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant, dealers said. Asia tanked on concern over a fresh global surge in coronavirus infections, sparking a fierce renewed selloff in Europe, with eyes also on the US open. Oil tumbled by more than five percent as traders fretted over the impact on the world’s appetite […]

Global coronavirus infections pass 20 million

PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 20 million coronavirus cases have been now been registered across the world, over half in the Americas, according to an AFP tally of official sources at 2215 GMT on Monday. At least 20,002,577 cases and 733,842 deaths have now been reported. More than four out of 10 coronavirus cases have been in the United States and Brazil, the two most affected countries in the world. While the US has […]

Global virus deaths pass 650,000 as new surges prompt fresh curbs

  by Agence France Presse bureaus Officials around the world reintroduced a raft of restrictions Monday — from beach closures to quarantine measures — to try to damp down coronavirus hotspots as the official death toll passed 650,000. European countries trying to repair the economic damage caused by the earlier lockdowns, struggled to balance keeping the lifeline of tourism open while guarding against fresh flare-ups of infection. Spain’s tourism industry faced fresh misery after British […]

Global stocks mostly rise as oil prices suffer another blow

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stocks mostly rose Tuesday as markets embraced better coronavirus case counts in some hotspots, while oil prices slumped amid skepticism over an historic agreement by petroleum producers. Major US indices gained more than two percent, the latest positive day for stocks since officials in New York and some other hotspots pointed to progress in cutting the number of new coronavirus cases. Some countries, including Italy and Austria, have […]

Global coronavirus cases top 1.5 million: AFP tally

PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 1.5 million cases of the novel coronavirus have been registered worldwide, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 0530 GMT Thursday from official sources. Of the 1,502,478 infections, 87,320 people have died across 192 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China late last year. The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only […]

Global stocks mixed on coronavirus but S&P 500, Nasdaq hit records

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Major US stock indices finished at fresh records Monday, shrugging off worries about the coronavirus that pressured other equity markets and drove oil prices lower. As the outbreak continued, Chinese President Xi Jinping donned a face mask while visiting medical workers and patients affected by the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 900 people. Although parts of China remain shut down, roads in Beijing and the financial hub […]

Global economy faces tenuous recovery beset by risks: World Bank

by Heather SCOTT WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Recovery in a handful of countries will boost global growth slightly this year but the outlook is riddled with potential pitfalls that could derail this tepid upswing, the World Bank cautioned Wednesday. A renewal of trade tensions, which eased recently with announcement of an initial agreement between the United States and China, would erode the modest progress and could spread quickly beyond the two economic powers. In […]

Global stocks boosted by China-US talk hopes

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Stocks floated higher on Thursday, lifted by positive sentiment surrounding the US-China trade war, while the pound steadied after a Brexit-fueled slump. China’s Commerce Ministry hinted Beijing could break the cycle of tit-for-tat retaliation in the trade war with the United States, while in Washington US President Donald Trump said the two sides continued to talk. Hope the countries could avoid catastrophe sent Wall Street higher for a second […]

Lower trust in vaccines among people in richer countries: survey

  by Issam AHMED Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — People in Europe have the lowest levels of trust in vaccines, according to a global survey of public attitudes toward health and science published Wednesday. The study found that people living in high-income countries have the lowest confidence in vaccines, a result that ties in to the rise of the anti-vaccination movement, in which people refuse to believe in the benefits of vaccinations […]

Global stocks mixed as Brexit talks resume

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stocks were mixed Tuesday as markets awaited details on US-China trade negotiations and Brexit talks resumed between the EU and Britain. Wall Street finished a choppy session marginally lower after European bourses had pushed higher, shrugging off Brexit worries. “The market is trying to react to a mixed bag of things,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National. “How much is priced in terms of good news […]

Global stocks mixed on reports of trade deal progress

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stocks finished mixed on Monday following reports the United States and China were close to a major trade agreement that would roll back some of the tariffs imposed in recent months. Asian bourses pushed higher, Europe was mixed and Wall Street retreated in a reaction that analysts said partly reflected the belief a trade deal had already been priced into the market. “We had a positive reaction on […]