United states

Q4FY20 volumes of United Spirit de-grew 13%, mainly due to broad based consumption slowdown. In line with the weak performance of its major competitor Pernod Ricard, USL also faced strong headwinds in the P&A category (fell 20% YoY), while the Popular category de-grew 7%. The weak performance on the volume front comes on a weak base of 1% volume growth in Q4FY19. Further, H1FY21 is expected to remain muted, amid lockdown, excise and cess hikes by various states. EBITDA margins grew mere 101 bps YoY to 13.6% on a low base (mainly due to unfavourable product mix and higher other expenses). Subsequently, resultant EBITDA, PAT, de-grew 4%, 81%, respectively (weak operating leverage further impacted by higher depreciation, lower other income and higher tax rate). … [Read more...] about Buy United Spirits; target of Rs 650: ICICI Direct

Titled “Conspiracy Inc.,” it parodied the unfounded claims that have exploded about the pandemic, which has killed nearly a quarter-million people in 177 countries. He depicted men and women promoting claims that pharmaceutical firms invented the virus, and American soldiers spread it in China, and that the Chinese government wants to use it to depopulate and conquer Africa. … [Read more...] about Coronavirus pandemic | Tanzanian cartoonist uses medium to keep up fight against misinformation

In some Chinatowns, volunteer patrols are forming to protect residents and confront harassers. The Guardian Angels, with patrols in over 130 cities worldwide, are recruiting in US Asian communities for the first time in 41 years. Members include seniors and women, who are often targets of abuse. … [Read more...] about US Asians, harassed over coronavirus, push back on streets, social media

Some say Japan may have a large hidden population of asymptomatic cases. Shigeru Omi, deputy head of the government’s expert panel on the coronavirus, told lawmakers that the real number of infections could be as much as 10 or 20 times as high as currently believed. Japan has reported fewer than 17,000 cases, versus more than 1.7 million in the United States. … [Read more...] about Testing is key to beating coronavirus, right? Japan has other ideas

The Fed's lending programs are backstopped by the US Treasury under rules reserved for emergencies. And in an effort to stabilize financial markets, the Fed has ballooned its balance sheet, which it had been trimming before the coronavirus pandemic, to a record-setting level of more than $7 trillion (5.7 trillion pounds). It may need to do more before the crisis is over, to keep borrowing rates low even as the economic recovery takes hold. … [Read more...] about Fed’s Jerome Powell fears second coronavirus wave, reiterates crisis-fighting pledge