The world in brief, March 21st 2

Global stockmarkets made gains on Friday in Europe and Asia after central banks and governments injected funds into financial markets, but then fell to a four-year low in America on investors’ continued fears of the pandemic. America’s Federal Reserve extended its asset purchases to include municipal bonds. The price of Brent crude oil nosed above $30 a barrel briefly before falling again, after Russia rebuffed【拒绝】 President Donald Trump’s offer to intervene in its price war with Saudi Arabia.

Federal and state policymakers announced stringent new measures applying to one in five Americans to battle the spread of covid-19. Residents of New York, Illinois, Connecticut and New Jersey have been told to remain inside, following a similar order issued in California. At the White House, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said America’s borders with Mexico and Canada would be closed to non-essential travellers from Saturday at midnight.

Britain’s government is considering buying stakes in airlines hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. The chancellor has already promised £330bn (200bn in state aid to stay aloft.

Swedish carmaker Volvo said its business in China was showing signs of recovery, offering the beleaguered【处于困境的】 automotive industry a scintilla of optimism even as the coronavirus pandemic leads to plant closures in Europe and America. The firm’s boss said Chinese factories, dealerships and showrooms were operating at levels not seen since before the outbreak.

Netflix, YouTube and Amazon said they would reduce streaming quality in Europe to help ease pressure on internet-service providers. Tens of millions of Europeans are practising social distancing to stem the spread of covid-19, with more homes streaming more entertainment as a result. The European Union had asked online-video services to switch, from high- to standard-definition streaming.

Latin American countries increased measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Argentina imposed a nationwide lockdown until March 31st. Brazil, with over 600 confirmed cases and seven deaths, shut all its borders (except the one it shares with Uruguay) for two weeks and restricted entry for travellers from European and some Asian countries.

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, its third such launch in a month. South Korea’s army criticised the provocation as inappropriate at a time when the world is fighting a pandemic. Authorities in the North have reported no cases of the new coronavirus, but experts nevertheless believe the virus has reached the country.