Bank of America Corp executives said on Tuesday they were optimistic the bank could return to loan growth this year, after the coronavirus pandemic caused its loan book to shrink on an annual basis for the first time since 2014.
Britain's government is still aiming to review COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in mid-February, Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis said on Tuesday.
Global shares rise 0.3%, U.S dollar index dips Upbeat earnings reports support European shares Yellen to say U.S. must ‘act big’ on relief package Italian bond yields drop ahead of confidence vote
MILAN/SYDNEY, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Global shares climbed and the dollar eased on Tuesday ahead of Janet Yellen’s Treasury Secretary confirmation speech, in which she is expected to bolster the case for heavy fiscal stimulus in the world’s largest economy.
Concerns that pandemic lockdowns could slow the road to economic recovery faded into the background as markets prepared for possible positive surprises from the earnings season.
Berlin eyes record public investment of 62 bln eur in 2021 (Adds Scholz, budget details)
BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The German government has finalised its 2020 budget with net new debt of 130.5 billion euros ($158.3 billion), the highest level of annual borrowing in post-war history due to the COVID-19 pandemic but still 40% less than originally planned.
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz is planning for record new debt of up to 180 billion euros this year to continue rescue and stimulus measures to shield Europe’s largest economy from the impact of a potentially aggressive new wave of infections.
“Despite the pandemic, we have public finances under control,” Scholz said. “We have the strength to keep on countering the coronavirus impact with massive action - and that’s exactly what we are doing.”