Economy Watch

China's coronavirus spreading, doubling.Hong Kong gripped by panic buying. China SMEs in grave danger. Westpac says we are underestimating local impacts. US jobs rise in medical distribution. Canada jobs rise. Aussie housing markets take off. Rains return. Bitcoin jumps.

Coronavirus cases jump. China retail shifts online faster. International airtravel grows slower. Aussie retail weak. Aussie trade balance strong. Seafreight and iron ore markets very weak. Equities leap in Asia. Eyes on US non-farm payrolls. Gold up. Bitcoin up.

US job gains may be good. US service sector rises modestly. December US trade deficit widens. Singapore ready to devalue. China locks down Hubei. Equity markets rise. Airfreight trade shrinks. RBA acknowledges low rate risks. Gold up.

Dairy prices fall -4.7%, but much lass than expected. US factory orders rose in December from November, but fell in all of 2019. China adds liquidity support as corona virus spreads. Equity investors look beyond virus crisis. Hong Kong in recession. RBA holds. Gold drops.

Equity markets rally. US PMIs improve marginally. US construction spending dips. China's financial markets reopen sharply lower. China lower interest rates. Virus spread seems to be topping out.

The US Treasury issuing new debt at a record pace. Gold dips.

China financial markets to reopen after holiday. Massive liquidity support. Beijing 'put'. Bird flu returns to China. Baltic Dry index sinks. US incomes under pressure and sabings rate turns negative. US factories shrink. Australia abandons surplus targets.

China being isolated fast as the coronavirus spreads. WHO to declare a global emergency. US Q4 GDP at modest +2.1% growth. European sentiment rises. Equity markets tumble. ANZ challenges ASIC's ethics. Gold jumps.

Eyes on US Fed. US trade deficit rises. US federal deficits swell. Boeing reports loss. US home sales fall. China readies liquidity support. Australia inflation flat. Bitcoin rises.

Equity markets rebound. US durable goods orders rise, but dependent on defence. US consumer sentiment rises. China coronavirus still spreading. But China's reactions applauded. UK follows Germany on Huawei. Australian business sentiment weakens.

Equity markets in retreat. Flight to safe havens. US new home sales disappoint. Dallas Fed survey still negative. China coronavirus spreads. China rolls out refunds, deferrals, waivers to help millions. Heatwave returns in Australia. Gold jumps.