Marketplace Morning Report

Stocks mixed to start the day. California, the fifth largest economy in the world, gets an order to “stay at home.” Financial institutions in New York have been ordered to waive, for now, some mortgage payments. How will COVID-19 affect the normally busy spring homebuying season?

Supermarket chain Kroger is hiring 10,000 people. Goldman Sachs predicts first-time unemployment claims will soar to 2.25 million. The White House wants $50 billion to help U.S. airlines stay alive, and another $150 billion for other distressed industries.

From the BBC World Service: More than 8% of COVID-19 cases in Italy are among health care workers. European shares rise as oil prices rally. Germany considers a $540 billion emergency business support fund. Slack workers try out a virtual pub quiz.

There were 281,000 more people who signed up for unemployment benefits last week. The big three Detroit automakers say they’re shutting down factories until at least March 30. The cities and states putting temporary holds on evictions.

The Fed offers emergency loans to what are considered low-risk money market mutual funds, and why that’s important. An early measure of layoffs during COVID-19. Price discrimination in the age of coronavirus.

From the BBC World Service: The European Central Bank will buy government and company debt across the eurozone, including that of Greece and Italy. The British pound is at a 30-year low against the U.S. dollar. A bar turns to at-home wine tasting.

Crude oil at its lowest point in 17 years. A penalty-free, interest-free delay on paying taxes you owe to the federal government. Partial, rotating factory shutdowns for U.S. automakers. How homeless shelters are handling social distancing.

The White House’s plan to send money directly to Americans to soften the economic blow from COVID-19: How would it work? Businesses in London finding it harder to “keep calm and carry on.”

From the BBC World Service: As more people use their home offices, broadband networks face greater demand. Investors are still wary, even after lots of government stimulus. Keeping calm and carrying on is getting harder for British restaurants.

Will what happened to automakers 10 years ago now happen to airlines? A new economic stimulus package under discussion. The logistics challenges that grocery stores are trying to fix. What COVID-19 has done to investment portfolios, and how to proceed.