Trump rolls the dice on recovery as stimulus talks break down

Linda J. Dodson

The stimulus talks stalled on the size of the package. The gap between Trump’s “very generous offer” of a $1.6 trillion package and the Democrats’ $2.4 trillion proposal was too large for the president to stomach.  The Democrats’ version contained a new stimulus cheque, an extension of higher benefits for unemployed workers, […]

Asian stocks surge on fiscal and monetary stimulus

Linda J. Dodson

HONG KONG/TOKYO — Asian shares rallied on Tuesday as news of further monetary and fiscal stimulus overshadowed fears of a second wave of the coronavirus in China and elsewhere. The rally in Asia came after U.S. equities reversed early losses on Monday after the Federal Reserve unveiled plans to buy […]

Abe’s barrel-chested stimulus package lacks leg power

Linda J. Dodson

TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called it the largest stimulus package in the world. The 117.1 trillion yen ($1.09 trillion) second supplementary budget that was approved by the Japanese cabinet on Wednesday, when put together with an earlier supplementary budget, brings total stimulus measures to 230 trillion yen. “It’s equivalent to 40% of […]

Abe’s barrel-chested stimulus package doesn’t have legs

Linda J. Dodson

TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called it the largest stimulus package in the world. The 117.1 trillion yen ($1.09 trillion) second supplementary budget that was approved by the Japanese cabinet on Wednesday, when put together with an earlier supplementary budget, brings total stimulus measures to 230 trillion yen. “It’s equivalent to 40% of […]

Asia faces financial health check after going big on stimulus

Linda J. Dodson

BANGKOK — Governments across Asia are unleashing massive stimulus packages to support economies heading into recession as the novel coronavirus batters consumption and investment, threatening progress in shoring up fiscal and monetary policy management following previous crises. Economists agree swift action is essential. Credit rating agencies, however, have their eyes […]

A vaccine will be the most effective economic stimulus

Linda J. Dodson

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s extension of the furlough scheme through October is confirmation, if any were needed, that the pandemic will not produce a mere three-month economic hiatus. Lost GDP from our societal decision to suppress the virus runs at around £60bn per month right now, with government borrowing potentially up […]