NEW YORK Global stocks experienced another rout Thursday as the human and economic toll from the coronavirus continued to rise and more governments shut down activity to try to contain the outbreak. Stock market gains last week sparked talk among some investors that the market might be adjusting to the abrupt suspension of so much economic activity as the West attempts to limit the spread of virus. But there was no way to sugarcoat President Donald Trump’s pronouncement late Tuesday that the US was in for “a very, very painful two weeks” as health experts said the US death count could reach 240,000 people. The statement was a major shift in tone from the US president, who had long downplayed the risk of the virus and as recently as a week ago discussed reopening the US economy by Easter on April 12. “America continues to wage all-out war to defeat the virus, this horrible, horrible virus.” —AFP
