Second Wave, Deadliest...

Tsunami's second wave is the deadliest.  Many saw horrific haunting images of children running out to pick up fishes on the beaches of Banda Aceh, Indonesia on December 26, 2004, after the first wave.  Then came the monstrous killer, second wave that swept away all who were on or near the beach, and the unimaginable death (estimate 280,000 death) and destructions ensued. Those who were lull and took a breath of sigh beguiled off and drowned. Killed. Now, similarly, it appears that the Covid-19 second wave cases are surging and more than 30 states in the U.S. set record infections. California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Nevada cases grew more than 5% as hospitalization also swelled...  Some fear that premature easing restrictions, race riots, demonstrations, and public disregard for preventative measures as time passes may make the second wave of cases greater than the initial burst.  Many people mistake the idea of society reopening with the scheme that society is safer, but things are no safer today than they were weeks ago when we were in full lockdown…  Be safe.  Be vigilant.  Live…

‘SMS’ Highlights of the week of 2020 (June 21 – June 27, 2020) 

1.  Covid-19 Outbreak Cases in 30 states.       More than 30 states of the U.S. set a record for average daily Covid-19 cases. As of Thursday, the nation’s seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases reached a record high of more than 33,000 cases, according to an analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. Cases were growing by 5% or more, based on the change in average new cases compared to last week, in 35 states across the country, including California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Nevada. Hospitalizations from Covid-19 were growing in 15 states as of Thursday, according to an analysis of data compiled by the Covid-19 Tracking Project. Hospitalizations can indicate how severe cases are in an area. While the rise in daily case numbers could reflect increased testing in certain locations, some states are reporting higher positivity rates. California’s positivity rate increased 5.1% Texas’ positivity rate exceeded 10% on Wednesday as on Friday as Governor Abbott announced Texas rolls back reopening. Texas reported a 79% increase in its weekly average of coronavirus cases on Thursday, averaging 4,757 daily new cases.  Florida is averaging about 4,013 daily new cases as of Thursday, which is about a 67% increase since one week ago. And, Arizona’s state hospitals are seeing additional stress and are “likely to hit surge capacity very soon.” The second wave is coming, many say...

2.  China’s Opposition Surge.    Singapore's decision to sideline Chinese companies in 5G upgrade comes amid concerns around the possible existence of security backdoors in their network equipment. Chinese telecom gear is certainly cheaper than its foreign counterparts, but the security concerns have made governments skeptical. Well, there is a swelling wave of opposition to China and now the World is waking up to China's true intentions to dominate 5G. Following the pandemic, Hong Kong, skirmishes at the Indian border, and so many other efforts by Beijing to conceal, coerce, and co-opt the world, it's waking up the citizens of the world to the Communist Party's true intentions to dominate 5G… Also, Canada is not backing down holding Huawei executive Meng extradition and calls for sanctions against China. And the EU is set to send a warning to China on 5G. And Kenyan court declared $3.2 billion contracts for Standard Gauge Railway project between Kenya government and the China Road and Bridge Corporation as illegal.  Brazil’s Bolsonaro anti-China rants have Beijing nervous about Brazil as it launches trade dispute against China. And there is an Indian coalition growing against China on border dispute… Indeed, the waves of anti-China sentiment are growing globally. Will the CCP be swept away by the dissent of the world and thrown back into dark age…?  

3. Global Economic Tsunami.   Global economy to shrink 'disastrous' 4.7% in 2020 amid post-pandemic scarring, Bloomberg economists forecasts. Output won't return to pre-virus highs until the second quarter of 2021 in the team's base-case scenario. The dire projections are in some ways a "best-case scenario," the economists said, as they still hinge on "optimistic assumptions about the trajectory of the disease and the pace of recovery." Investor hopes for a V-shaped bounce to 2019 highs were all but dashed by a discordant response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the firm's latest projection. A swift recovery required quick-acting stimulus, virus containment in the second quarter, and synchronized lifting of lockdown. Many major economies failed to meet the three conditions and set up the rest of the world for a prolonged recession. The updated forecast is in some ways "a best-case scenario," the economists said, as it still consists of "optimistic assumptions about the trajectory of the disease and the pace of recovery." The team's more pessimistic case sees global GDP sliding 6.7% in 2020 with global output returning to pre-pandemic highs at the very end of 2021. Perhaps, the history of forecast revisions in the age of COVID-19 shows even the bleakest forecasts sometimes aren't bleak enough. So, how bad will it be? God bless all. The world needs a miracle.  

Global Coronavirus status as of 6-26-2020:  9,667,000+ cases; 491,000+ dead;  US cases: 2,430,000+; US Dead: 124,600+  Details @: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

6/26/2020:   DOW-25,015; S&P500-3,009; NASDAQ-9,757; Gold $1,783.40;  Oil-$38.20;   US 10-Year: 0.64% 

Mahalo. I welcome and value your thoughtful comments, “like” and “share” of this publication. 

~ S. Vincent Shin

    www.dhirubhai.net/in/vshin

“Stay Curious” and “Think for Yourself” and always decide on your own term. This is my research and analysis of the highlights of the events that shake, move, and shape the market and people. Perhaps you should take a closer look at them, do additional research and analysis if these are interesting to you. This “SMS” weekly Highlights is presented for general knowledge, the resource for management, and perhaps as a tool for career development, and building wealth.

References and Image credits to Bloomberg News, The Wall Street Journals, Getty image, AP Photo, Reuters, CNBC, NBC News, Auto Spies..., and special thanks to Image & Visual Consultant @U.Y. All references, news, and images are from open source and public domain.