{"id":31036,"date":"2020-04-03T14:35:15","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T11:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bondora.com\/blog\/?p=31036"},"modified":"2020-04-03T14:35:15","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T11:35:15","slug":"reasons-for-coronavirus-optimism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/blog\/reasons-for-coronavirus-optimism\/","title":{"rendered":"Reasons for coronavirus optimism, Apple announces new products, and Russia gets into a price war"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the coronavirus is still a concern in many western countries, there are some areas in which the virus is slowing down. In Spain, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-52092898\" target=\"_blank\">the outbreak of Covid-19 is decreasing<\/a>, a sign of optimism that the country has weathered through the worst of the pandemic.&nbsp; According to the country\u2019s Foreign Minister Arancha Gonz\u00e1lez, there has been a flattening of the curve in Spain over the past week, leading many experts to predict Spain will come to some reprieve from the virus in the coming weeks. New cases of coronavirus are only growing about 12% per day compared to 20% in past weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similarly, in Italy and the United Kingdom, cases have also been <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/coronavirus-outbreak-appears-to-be-slow-in-europe-and-us-2020-3\" target=\"_blank\">slowing as of late<\/a>. Experts in these countries point to lower hospital admission rates as a positive sign that Europe could be in a more manageable situation for containing the virus in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">British epidemiologist Neil Ferguson told the BBC that there is reason for optimism even as the number of deaths continue to rise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goandgrow.eu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/coronavirus-optimism.png\" alt=\"coronavirus optimism\" class=\"wp-image-31037\" \/><figcaption><br \/> <em>&#8220;In the UK we&#8217;re seeing some early signs of slowing in some indicators, less so in deaths because deaths are lagged by a long time from when measures come in force&#8221;.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, even though the number of Covid-19 cases in Germany is still rising, the country has had significantly <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/5812555\/germany-coronavirus-deaths\/\" target=\"_blank\">fewer deaths as a result of the virus<\/a>. Germany has done a great job of widespread testing for the virus, leading to early intervention and treatment for those who contracted the virus but were yet to show symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even as their production has stalled, Apple is not letting up on new product releases. Apple just leaked its new iPhone and iPad models, leaving customers to salivate over what could come to the market in the next year. The company\u2019s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/gordonkelly\/2020\/02\/03\/apple-iphone-12-pro-max-release-date-design-camera-price-iphone-11-upgrade\/#26f4eba96d70\" target=\"_blank\">new iPhone 12<\/a> is set to have a new operating system, iOS 14, a long-range 3D camera, and other cool features to get excited about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, before the iPhone 12 is released, its starter version, the iPhone 9, is already entering mass production. This version of the iPhone will come in at a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/apple-iphone-9-release-date-plus-specs-rumors-2020-3\" target=\"_blank\">reasonable price tag<\/a>, while still providing all of the power and speed of an Apple product.:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goandgrow.eu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/low-cost-iPhone.png\" alt=\"low-cost iPhone\" class=\"wp-image-31043\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The new low-cost iPhone, based on the reports we&#8217;ve seen so far, is shaping up to be the 2020 edition of that phone, which is to say it&#8217;ll have the same design as one of Apple&#8217;s older iPhones (the iPhone 8), but with the processing power of its newest devices. It&#8217;s expected to be released in the first half of 2020, although it&#8217;s unclear whether the ramifications of the coronavirus outbreak will have delayed Apple&#8217;s production.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, this might not be the most innovative thing Apple is releasing this year. The new iPad Pro comes with a floating dock, keyboard and trackpad, and AR hardware, making it an exciting new product that will leave consumers <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09_QxCcBEyU\" target=\"_blank\">questioning what makes a computer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the United States economy teetering on the edge of collapse, the US Senate stepped up to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/25\/politics\/stimulus-senate-action-coronavirus\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">pass a $2 trillion stimulus package<\/a> that quelled fears of investors and employees alike. The bill, which passed the Senate with a unanimous vote, has money earmarked for different areas of the US economy which have been affected by the virus. $250 billion is set to go directly to individuals and families, $350 billion will be used for small business loans, $250 billion is being used for unemployment insurance benefits, and another $500 billion will serve as loans for companies in severe distress. After passing in the House of Representatives, the bill was signed by President Donal Trump and became official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And yet, the US might not be done with providing a boost to its economy. President Trump announced he was in favor of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s plan for an additional piece of the stimulus package <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/story\/pelosi-sees-phase-4-coronavirus-package-including-additional-payments-to-americans-infrastructure-spending-2020-03-30?mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\">still to come<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goandgrow.eu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/USA.png\" alt=\"USA\" class=\"wp-image-31049\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The California Democrat on Monday also said she would like to see the next bill feature \u201cmore direct payments\u201d to Americans, more money for state and local governments, increased protections for workers, more assistance for hospitals and nursing homes and \u201cmore opportunity for family and medical leave.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe president said during the campaign \u2014 and since \u2014 infrastructure was a priority for him. So that\u2019s why we believe that in terms of recovery, that\u2019s probably the most bipartisan path that we can take,\u201d Pelosi said on Monday in a conference call with reporters.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Russian economy is getting blasted not only because of coronavirus fears, but also due to falling oil prices as well. As a result, the country\u2019s central bank has stepped in to slow the devaluation of the ruble. The Bank of Russia announced it would start foreign currency sales, a measure that some see as beneficial for the country\u2019s economy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goandgrow.eu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/devaluation-of-the-ruble.png\" alt=\"devaluation of the ruble\" class=\"wp-image-31055\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe sales should ease pressure on the ruble,\u201d said Tatiana Evdokimova, an analyst at Nordea Bank in Moscow. \u201cThe central bank is trying to do everything it can to stabilize the ruble while inflationary pressures aren\u2019t so high that they make a rate increase inevitable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government has already launched a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2020\/03\/16\/russia-to-launch-4bln-fund-in-attempt-to-shield-economy-from-coronavirus-shock-a69633\" target=\"_blank\">$4 billion anti-crisis fund<\/a> specifically to combat coronavirus. But it\u2019s Russia\u2019s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/europe\/moscow-got-itself-into-an-oil-price-war-with-saudi-arabia-a-major-gamble-for-russias-economy\/2020\/03\/10\/94c01bca-6226-11ea-8a8e-5c5336b32760_story.html\" target=\"_blank\">oil price war with Saudia Arabia<\/a> that could be the real killer, as oil prices continue to slide to prices not seen in four-years, shedding billions of dollars off the country\u2019s economy as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><em>*As with any investment, your capital is at risk. Investments made through Bondora are not guaranteed; therefore any assets allocated to the Go &amp; Grow account are not guaranteed by any state fund or otherwise secured and it may not be possible to liquidate assets or withdraw money immediately. The yield is up to 6.75% p.a., but please note that the yield achieved in past periods does not guarantee the rate of return in the future. Before deciding to invest, please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goandgrow.eu\/en\/riskstatement#gogrow\">review our risk statement<\/a> or consult with a financial advisor if necessary.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the coronavirus is still a concern in many western countries, there are some areas in which the virus is slowing down. In Spain, the outbreak of Covid-19 is decreasing, a sign of optimism that the country has weathered through the worst of the pandemic.&nbsp; According to the country\u2019s Foreign Minister Arancha Gonz\u00e1lez, there has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-financial-well-being"],"acf":[],"featured_image":null,"categories_names":["Financial Well-being"],"category_name":"Financial Well-being","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31036\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goandgrow.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}