LONDON: Policymakers are staging emergency operations to inoculate the global economy against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, but risk running into financial and political constraints. Stimulus plans by US President Donald Trump’s administration have helped inject some calm into panicky financial markets this week, yet face pushback from Congress. That was in line with an appeal from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for “substantial targeted fiscal, monetary and financial market measures” around the globe. There is a risk that demand falls even more, she observed, as more companies and consumers go into lockdown against the virus. Trump promised to announce “major” economic measures on Tuesday and he made a rare trip to Capitol Hill for talks with his Republican party lawmakers.

Source: Manila Times March 12, 2020 18:11 UTC