Finance Monthly April 2020 Edition

9 www.finance-monthly.com NEWS - MONTHLY ROUND-UP In the aftermath of emergency meas- ures outlined by both governments and banks worldwide, US and European stock indexes have seen an increase in value af- ter a week of uncer- tainty. The increased opti- mism seen in these markets can be “our people and our economies”. These measures co- incided with the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates down to their lowest level in history, from 0.25% to 0.1%. Norway followed suit, with Norges Bank cutting inter- est rates to 0.25%, its credited to stimu- lus measures on the part of central banks. In Europe, the ECB pledged to buy €750 billionworth of bonds in a bid to defend the eurozone from the expected damage of the coronavirus epi- demic, a move which French president Em- manuel Macron said was sorely needed by US and European Stocks Rise Following Unprecedented Stimulus Measures Korea, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. As further quarantine and social distanc- ing measures come into effect, slow- ing spending and prompting layoffs, market uncertainty will likely continue. own lowest-ever rate. In the case of the US, the stock rise came after the Federal Re- serve announced plans to temporar- ily provide billions of dollars to nine central banks suffering from greenback short- ages, and at near- zero rates. Banks affected by the offer include the Bank of