Stock markets rally as some countries prepare to ease Covid-19 lockdowns - business live

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Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news

There’s a big difference between easing a lockdown and ending it.

New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, says her country must remain vigilant - after moving swiftly to impose a tough lockdown that appears to have prevented a major Covid-19 outbreak.

“We are opening up the economy, but we’re not opening up people’s social lives.”

Related: Ardern: New Zealand has 'won battle' against community transmission of Covid-19

UK businesses are pushing the government hard for information on when the lockdown here might start to ease.

My colleague Zoe Wood explains:

The Institute of Directors said its 28,000 members were “clamouring” for information so they could start drawing up return-to-work plans. Jon Geldart, its director general, said it was in everyone’s interests to kickstart the economy again once it is safe to do so.

“Directors from all parts of the UK need to make plans for riding out this tempest, but they can’t get very far if they have no idea what will be happening in a few weeks’ time,” Geldart said.

Related: Bosses appeal to the government for a lockdown exit plan

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2KBbvf3

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