World oil demand forecast to suffer biggest drop ever

World oil demand forecast to suffer biggest drop ever

LONDON (AP) — Global demand for oil will fall this year by the most ever due to the economic lockdowns enforced around the world to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.An estimated drop in demand of 9.3 million barrels a...
Commerce locks up and retail sales plunge unprecedented 8.7%

Commerce locks up and retail sales plunge unprecedented 8.7%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. retail sales plummeted 8.7% in March, an unprecedented decline, as the viral outbreak forced an almost complete lockdown of commerce nationwide.The deterioration of sales far outpaced the previous record decline of 3.9% that took place during...
Banks brace for big loan defaults by US, global customers

Banks brace for big loan defaults by US, global customers

NEW YORK (AP) — The major banks in the U.S. are anticipating a flood of loan defaults as households and business customers take a big financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic. JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs raised the...
Stocks sink following grim data on economic hit from virus

Stocks sink following grim data on economic hit from virus

NEW YORK (AP) — Selling swept Wall Street Wednesday after a dismal lineup of reports made clear how historic the coronavirus crunch has been for the economy. Markets are already bracing for what’s forecast to be the worst downturn since the Great Depression, but...