AFN News April 16

AFN NEWS

Thursday, April 16, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. A Washington, D.C. suburb in Maryland may be the next U.S. epicenter in the battle against COVID-19. ABC’s Andy Field tells us why health officials are so focused on Prince George’s County. “Maryland’s rising number of coronavirus illness and death are intertwined with those nearby D.C. and northern Virginia. ‘Over 18,700 cases are in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia area and more than 600 people have died.’ That’s why Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s ordering more ventilators, protective gear and he’s racing to hire up to 1,000 people to trace contact to anyone testing positive. Andy Field, ABC News, Bethesda, Maryland.”

2) California Governor Gavin Newsom says the state virus assistance will include $ 500 for every undocumented adult immigrant. There are estimated 2 million immigrants living illegally in the state.

3) Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the enemy is the virus, not one another. That was a response to Operation Gridlock, a protest of the state’s Stay-at-Home order. “So the sad irony here is that the protest was they don’t like being in this stay-home order and they may have just created a need to lengthen it.” Groups including the state Conservative Coalition jammed the streets around the capitol. Many of them are in their cars and some walking along the street carrying rifles. One city is seeing a spike in domestic violence in the midst of the pandemic. “Kansas City Stay-at-Home order went into effect March 24th through Tuesday of this week. Police Chief Rick Smith says 911 calls for domestic violence jumped 22% compared to the same time last year. Since the end of January, domestic violence cases are up 14%.” ABC’s Ryan Burrow.

4) Two Republican sources say the paycheck protection program could run out of money as early as tonight without a deal in Congress. It's set up federally backed forgivable loans to help small businesses affected by COVID-19. You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Connell McShane. This is the Fox Business Report.

Stocks closing sharply higher as investors looking ahead to the eventual reopening of the economy. Among the gainers, tech companies which helped lift the NASDAQ out of bear market territory. The Dow closing up 559 points, the NASDAQ up 323, S&P 500 up 85. // And Amazon gaining over 5% closed at all-time high of over $2,283 a share. At that price, Amazon is worth over $1.1 trillion. // And shares of Zoom Video Communications zooming higher and continuing their rebound after Cantor Fitzgerald analyst upgraded the company. Zoom stocks closing over 4%, making for a roughly 25% rally over the past four trading days following a rough stretch earlier this month as criticism over the company’s privacy and security policies pressured the shares. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News April 9

ABC NEWS  APRIL 9, 2020

                          

1)           From ABC News, I am Daria Albinger.  More signs that this is the worst week so far for the COVID-19 pandemic.  The latest numbers from Johns Hopkins show there are almost 420,000 confirmed cases of the virus, the death toll well over 14,000. 

   New York and New Jersey reporting record numbers of deaths again in the last 24 hours, and California Governor Gavin Newsom says the numbers are also increasing in his state; “Sadly we had one of the highest death rates in the state so far.  Now it’s 68 individuals that passed away over the last 24 hours.  We now have 442 individuals that have lost their lives.” 

But there are also signs of hope.  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the curve is flattening; “If the hospitalization rate keeps decreasing the way it is now, then the system should stabilize.” 

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says it’s time to double down on social distancing and other guidelines to stop the spread of the virus; “Don’t let the warm weather or the holidays fool us; we are in the fight of our lives and we remain in the fight of our lives.”

2)                The markets rallied on those signs of hope.  The Dow closing up over 700 points.

3)          ABC News has learned that Intelligence Community tried to warn President Trump about the pandemic as far back as last November in a report from the National Center for Medical Intelligence.  ABC News contributor John Cohen, a former Undersecretary of Homeland Security; “It’s hard to believe that there was a total lack of awareness of this total, that there was complete surprise when these very clear warning signs came to the attention of the Intelligence Community and were passed on to the White House.”  No comment from the government.

4)          Joe Biden is now on the presumptive nominee for the Democratic presidential nomination.  Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign today.  You are listening to ABC News.

5-1)    I’m Connell McShane.  This is the Fox Business report. 

       “On Wall Street, stocks rallying on various headlines, signs that spread of the coronavirus could be stabilizing in the hard-hit locations, Senator Bernie Sanders dropping out of the presidential race, and also on reports that Russia has retreated to oil production cuts. 

5-2)    Among the gainers; real estates, energy and financials.  And stocks pressured by the coronavirus outbreak, also leading the way higher with cruise line operators and airline surging.  The Dow up 780 points, the Nasdaq up 204, the S&P 500 officially exiting out of bear-market territory and closing up 91 points.

5-3)    And automaker General Motors is making 30,000 ventilators, the national stockpile in a $489 million contract with the Department of Health and Human Services.  According to the deal struck under the Defense Production Act, GM is expected to deliver over 6100 ventilators by June 1^st, and the remainder by the end of August.

     That’s your Fox Business report.  I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.”

AFN News March 26

AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 26, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. Just about everyone knows someone whose job has been affected by COVID-19 and we’re getting a better idea of how many Americans that may be. ABC’s Alex Stone with the jobless numbers in California, one of the hardest-hit states. “Governor Gavin Newsom announcing a grim milestone here in California when it comes to unemployment claims in just a past week and a half ‘Just since March 13th, 1 million Californians have now claimed they need to get unemployment insurance.’ The governor announcing a deal with many of the country’s biggest banks to give Californians who are impacted 90-day relief from paying their mortgages. Alex Stone, ABC News, Los Angeles.”

2) Senate leaders trying to work out last minute’s problems in the $2 trillion economic stimulus package. ABC’s Andy Field in Washing says when they do, up to $1200 checks could start arriving soon. “If your last year tax refund was direct deposit, you will get that $1200 government check quickly, but if you receive the paper check refund, $1200 stimulus could take 4 to 5 weeks. If you haven’t filed this year’s taxes yet, what you receive will be based on last year’s return.” Senator Bernie Sanders is threatening to hold the package hostage, however, over parts that would give money to corporations affected by the outbreak.

3) Stocks soared their first back-to-back gains since a bruising sell-off that began more than a month ago. The Dow closing up nearly 500 points. However, many economists still believe that markets have not yet bottomed out.

4) Terry Chasely suddenly developed COVID-19 symptoms last week though. The suburban Chicago woman was hospitalized and is now in quarantine. “I’m getting better and, but for a while I couldn’t, my parents wanted to talk to me when I was in hospital and I couldn’t carry on conversations.” She says everyone must take the virus seriously even if they’re young and they don’t show symptoms. You are listening to ABC News.

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I’m Charles Payne and this is the Fox Business Report.

The major averages ending mixed after lawmakers and the White House reached an agreement on the $2 trillion stimulus package. However, stocks paring from bigger gains into the close after Sen. Bernie Sanders threatened to hold up a vote on the coronavirus relief bill. The Dow closing up 496 points for its first back-to-back gains since early February. The Nasdaq down 34, S&P 500 down 28. // And new unemployment benefit claims are rising to levels not seen in the recent U.S. history. States have reported receiving tens of thousands of new claims to unemployment insurance last week. Official figures will be released tomorrow and some economists project that new claims could reach as much as 4 million nationwide. // And shares of Facebook falling 3%. The social media giant says the usage of its platform has surged but added that it’s also seeing a weakening of its ad sales business. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News March 19

AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 19, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. Fighting COVID-19. “We must make shared sacrifices, and that’s what we’re doing as a country.” President Trump says he’ll employ the Defense Production Act to overcome shortage of face masks, ventilators and other supplies. The President is also announcing that the U.S. and Canada agreed to close the border to all but essential travels. That is helpful for Americans as near. “A multi-million-dollar relief package to combat COVID-19 now heads to the President’s desk to sign into law after passing in the Senate. The bill includes paid sick leave, paid family leave, free coronavirus testing and expansion of food security programs like SNAP benefits. Democratic Senator Ed Markey says of the measure, “We need to activate our capable, intelligent domestic industry and bring the whole weight of the federal government behind this effort, __ __, ABC News, Washington.” *SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

2) Republican senators said they expect the outlines of the third economic stimulus bill as early as tonight. Kroger says it’s hiring 10,000 additional workers across their supermarkets, manufacturing plants, distribution centers. Another steep Wall Street selloff, the Dow erasing almost all gains since President Trump’s 2017 inauguration, losing over 6%. Susan Schmidt, head of U.S. Equities at Aviva Investors, “It is very hard to know how the market will recover from that whether it will be a quick bounce back, short and shallow recession or it will be something more prolonged.” S&P 500’s slide was so sharp trading was halted for 15 minutes. It lost 5%.

3) They’re trying to get the Salt City Airport fully functional again that’s struck down after 5.7 magnitude earthquake. ABC’s Alex Stone. “The FAA is now bringing in a mobile control tower. It’s set up at the Salt City Airport in case controllers can’t get back into the main tower which still has to be cleared by structural engineers. Right now they’re working in limited ways using a secondary ramp tower, but commercial flights are landing and taking off again from Salt Lake City. The first to take off was a flight to Dallas-Fort Worth. You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Charles Payne and this is the Fox Business Report.

Stocks ending sharply lower with the Dow finishing below the 20,000 level for the first time since February of 2017. This as investors continue to dump stocks and other assets on worries over the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. And the New York Stock Exchange announcing it will be temporarily moving to fully electronic trading. The Dow falling 1,338 points, the NASDAQ down 345, S&P 500 down 131. // And the shares of FedEx surging to buck today sharp sell-off as quarterly revenue beating Wall Street estimates and a rebound in its China business, helping soothe Wall Street concerns over coronavirus related uncertainties. // And the world’s biggest furniture brand IKEA is closing all of its 50 stores in the U.S. and the Manhattan planning studio due to the coronavirus. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.

AFN News March 12

AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 12, 2020　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. The Bears have been sitting around Wall Street a lot lately and today they returned. Worries about coronavirus paired with the plunge in oil prices and questions about what the Fed will do about them caused the Dow to plunge nearly 1500 points, a drop of 20% from its all-time high last month. President Trump says financial institutions are ready to help consumers and businesses. “These are powerful institutions. They’re built up. They’re ready to go. And I know there will be helping their customers during the short time period.” The President speaks to the nation tonight.

2) The market just one reaction to what the World Health Organization is now calling a pandemic. “Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It’s a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over.”

3) The upcoming March Madness games will be played with just essential personal and limited family in attendance. The NBA’s Golden State Warriors will play games without fans in their arena until further notice. Nearly 120,000 people now testing positive to the virus, most cases still in mainland China, and the U.S. death toll is rising. “The number of dead in the U.S. is now up to 36. Four more deaths coming in the Washington State and one in Los Angeles County. Washington State is now reporting at least 366 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Globally the Chief of the World Health Organization saying he is alarmed by inaction around the world of countries not doing enough to stop the spread of the virus.” ABC’s Alex Stone.

4) Two U.S. service members among at least three people killed in a rocket attack in Iraq.

5) The Fed carrying out early morning raids across the nation today, targeting alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation cartel which controls up to two thirds in the U.S. drug market. You’re listening to ABC News.

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I’m Charles Payne and this is the Fox Business Report.

Another day of tumultuous trading on Wall Street with stocks dropping sharply as investors worry about the economic fallout from the coronavirus. The Dow tumbling and falling into bear market territory and declined at least 20% from its recent highs which were set on February the 12th. The Dow falling 1,465 points, the NASDAQ down 392, S&P 500 down 141. // And shares of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line once again taking a huge beating as investors remain skeptical about a fiscal stimulus package or targeted measures to aid the struggling industry. // And analysts say people lowering earnings estimates for restaurant companies on expectations that the coronavirus will create labor shortages and impact opening hours as it continues to spread across the U.S. That’s your Fox Business Report. I’m Hilarie Barsky, invested in you.