Gold prices up 16% in 2020
THE Chinese idiom yi bo wei ping, yi bo you qi (translated as: before the current problem has been resolved, a new one rears its head) aptly describes my view of 2020 thus far.
The first half of the year was mired in the grips of a global pandemic of a scale not seen since the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. The effects of this viral outbreak have impacted almost every aspect of modern living globally. From the halt of air travel as countries went through systemic lockdowns in a bid to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus to the new normal of wearing face masks and the liberal application of hand sanitisers.
As the second half of the year begins, most countries have reported a slowdown in the spread of the novel coronavirus as the results from the measures have started to show. There is a palpable air of expectation that perhaps the worst is starting to come to an end.
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Companies & Markets
Apac finance M&A to stay subdued after Q1 decline as uncertainties linger: S&P Global
Japan's Nikkei closes at 3-week high on US rate-cut outlook, tech boost
Philippines’ PLDT in talks to sell up to 49% of data centre business to Japan’s NTT
Infineon launches savings programme as weak demand persists
MAS ‘following up’ with DBS on cause of May 2 glitch in digital banking services
Nintendo to announce Switch successor details this financial year