Money

Fears for global supply chain as China’s COVID cases double in one day

Published

4 years ago

March 16, 2022

Fears are growing for the global economy as coronavirus restrictions in China lock down cities and shut down factories.

China has placed more than 50 million into lockdown as it struggles to battle multiple outbreaks of the “stealth” Omicron sub-variant.

It’s raising concerns about the stability of the world’s second-largest economy and triggering a sell-off on commodity and equity markets.

“The country’s virus control strategy is still effective against the omicron variant, but omicron’s stealth and rapid transmission means that faster and stricter measures should be taken,” Lei Zhenglong, deputy head of the commission’s Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, was quoted as saying in the China Daily.

He said 27 provinces were now affected.

China’s daily COVID-19 cases had doubled in just 24 hours, raising fears about future disruptions to major supply chains.

Shanghai Tower was placed under lockdown

Flights to Shanghai will be diverted to other cities from next week.

China’s tech hub of Shenzhen has been locked down for a week.

Outlook slashed

Morgan Stanley has slashed its growth forecast for China to zero for the current quarter.

The broker also lowered its 2022 GDP prediction to a 5.1 per cent expansion, from 5.3 per cent, which would be below the country’s formal target of 5.5 per cent.

“The double lockdowns sent a clear message that Beijing is prioritising COVID-19 containment over the economy, and a recalibration of its COVID-19 strategy will likely be delayed,” said Morgan Stanley’s chief China economist, Robin Xing.

Money

U.S. jobs report, Fed decisions, and Japan’s economic risks explained

January US jobs report sparks uncertainty; analysts debate impact on Federal Reserve policy and market confidence.

Published

3 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

January US jobs report sparks uncertainty; analysts debate impact on Federal Reserve policy and market confidence.

The January US jobs report shows a mixed picture for the economy, with payroll revisions and steady unemployment leaving analysts questioning the impact on Federal Reserve policy. We break down what the numbers mean for interest rates and market confidence.

US stock markets could face turbulence as investors digest the latest jobs data. David Scutt from StoneX explains how these figures may influence equities and what the outlook is for global markets.

Meanwhile, developments in Japan and a strengthening yen could spark new macroeconomic risks. From carry trades to unexpected shocks, we explore how these factors ripple across the global economy.

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#USJobsReport #FederalReserve #StockMarket #MacroRisks #JapanEconomy #GlobalMarkets #CurrencyTrading #EconomicUpdate

Money

Alphabet launches $20B bond to fund AI expansion

Alphabet’s $20B bond offering highlights investor confidence in AI growth, enabling funding without shareholder dilution.

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Alphabet’s $20B bond offering highlights investor confidence in AI growth, enabling funding without shareholder dilution.

Alphabet has launched a record $20 billion bond offering to finance its massive AI infrastructure build-out, signalling strong investor confidence in the company’s growth strategy. The oversubscribed sale shows that investors are betting on Alphabet’s AI potential and long-term returns.

By using debt instead of equity, Alphabet can raise funds without diluting shareholders. The money will support AI research, advanced computing, and other strategic projects, cementing the company’s leadership in the sector.

Brad Gastwirth from Circular Technologies explains how corporate debt is reshaping tech financing and how investors perceive AI-linked bonds. This record issuance could set a trend for other tech companies looking to fund innovation.

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Money

AI tax tool sparks market turmoil for financial firms

Major financial firms’ stocks fell sharply after an AI tax tool launch, raising investor fears of disruption in advisory services.

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Major financial firms’ stocks fell sharply after an AI tax tool launch, raising investor fears of disruption in advisory services.

Shares of major financial services firms tumbled after the launch of a new AI-powered tax planning tool. LPL Financial dropped nearly 11%, while Charles Schwab and Raymond James Financial fell more than 9%, signalling investor concern over AI disrupting traditional advisory services.

Morgan Stanley also saw a 4% decline as fears grow that AI could replace some of the most profitable offerings of established firms. Earlier this year, the introduction of other AI models already caused turbulence in software stocks, suggesting this could be a broader trend affecting multiple sectors.

The iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers and Securities ETF was down 4% on Tuesday, reflecting the market-wide uncertainty surrounding AI adoption in finance. Investors are closely watching whether AI will complement or cannibalise the industry’s core services.

#AIImpact #WallStreet #FinancialMarkets #InvestingNews #MorganStanley #CharlesSchwab #RaymondJames #FinTech