The economic data is catching up with reality, although the gap between the formal reports and what’s unfolding in the real world remains huge. For the high-frequency numbers that capture the blowback from the coronavirus in close to real time, the results are painfully clear. In particular, the soaring applications for jobless claims in recent weeks speaks volumes about the economic rampage that’s unfolding across America. In the past four weeks, more than 22 million workers have lost jobs—a loss that reverses all the employment gains in the past decade.

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Trump outlines guidelines for states to emerge from shutdown: Reuters
US coronavirus deaths spiked higher on Thursday: WSJ
Experimental drug for treating coronavirus offers encouraging test results: STAT
US-China economic breakup more likely as coronavirus crisis rolls on: WSJ
France’s Macron warns of EU’s collapse as ‘political project’: FT
The sharp economic downturn in China is a warning for the world: NY Times
US housing construction fell sharply in March: Bloomberg
Philly Fed Mfg Index falls to lowest reading ever in April: Philly Fed
US jobless claims continued to rise by the millions last week: CNBC
China’s economy contracts by a hefty 6.8% in the first quarter: CNBC

The deep recession triggered by the coronavirus is the worst downturn since the Great Depression, but the hope is that the rebound will be equally swift and strong–a ‘V’ recovery. Unfortunately, the outlook for this best-case scenario is precarious.

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Global debt is soaring, posing a risk after pandemic fades: WSJ
Surge in US jobless claims filings expected to continue in today’s update: Reuters
Fed’s Beige Book paints grim economic profile for US: Barron’s
Business inflation expectation fell sharply in April: Atlanta Fed
US industrial output plummets 5.4% in March–biggest decline since 1946: MW
NY Fed Mfg Index falls to a record low in April: NY Fed
Homebuilder sentiment posts biggest monthly decline in data’s 35yr history: CNBC
US headline retail sales collapsed in March although some segments rose: CNBC

The extraordinary gains in long Treasuries so far this year is a sight to behold. In the rush to safety this year, US debt has been a clear winner and within this space long maturities have left the rest of the fixed-income realm in the dust, based on a set of exchange-traded funds through yesterday’s close (Apr. 14).

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Trump suspends US funding for World Health Organization: Politico
US resists IMF plan to support emerging economies’ finances: FT
IEA estimates that a decade of oil-demand growth will evaporate in 2020: CNBC
Social distancing may need to last longer than widely expected: Reuters
IMF expects worst global recession since Great Depression: NY Times
Record drop expected for retail sales in today’s report for March: Reuters
Gold rises to 8-year high: Bloomberg

There have been few places to hide from this year’s dramatic crash in stock markets around the world. Cash, US Treasuries and a select group of government bonds in foreign markets have been a rare source of safety. For funds that held risk assets, managed futures strategies have also been an island of calm, at least for some portfolios, including several of the largest ETFs in this niche.

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Governors of 10 states announce plans for gradual economic reopenings: Reuters
US economic reopening expected to be slow and tenuous: WSJ
Fed’s plan to favor certain cities for relief funding draws criticism: FT
Advanced economies on track for deeper slump vs. 2008 crisis: Bloomberg
Coronavirus-earnings season starts with today’s update from JP Morgan: CNBC
Treasury Dept: first round of coronavirus checks have been sent: USA Today
Economic pain will linger longer after economy reopens: NY Times
Is Texas in play for Nov election after state’s economic troubles? Politico
Treasury market’s inflation expectations continue to snap back:

Most of the major asset classes mounted a strong rebound in the shortened trading week through Thursday, Mar. 9, led by US real estate investment trusts (REITs), based on a set of exchange-traded funds. The lone exception: broadly defined commodities, which continued to slump.

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Dr. Fauci: ‘cautious optimism’ that US coronavirus outbreak is slowing: CNBC
China’s new daily coronavirus cases rise to nearly 6-week high: Reuters
China imposes restrictions on publication of coronavirus research: CNN
Trump eyes reopening US economy but governors have the authority: USA Today
Minneapolis Fed President: US economic rebound could be ‘long, hard road’: CNBC
OPEC, Russia and US sign off on cut in oil production cut: Reuters
Goldman Sachs predicts that US stocks have seen their lows: Bloomberg
US consumer prices fell 0.5% in March–biggest monthly fall in 5 years: CNBC