Economic toll of virus
Economic toll of virus sinks in, duration remains an unknown
The Dow Jones Industrial Average over the past five days: up 1,293, down 785, up 1,173, down 969, down 256. The Dow sank as many as 894 points Friday before recovering much of its losses. The VIX, an index known as Wall Street's fear barometer, touched levels not seen since the financial crisis. The uncertainty and potential economic damage from the coronavirus deepened this week. Sectors that cater to almost any public activity — movie theaters, business conference organizers, hotels, airlines and amusement parks — have lost billions as investors flee to areas they perceive as safer, like U.S. Treasury notes, which now pay paltry amounts that are far less than inflation. Following is a brief look at how things are changing in the economy and the workplace today as the outbreak widens.
5 years ago