Week of March 2nd, 2020

It’s never been easier to conduct a ransomware attack.

And Hollywood’s fortune’s are increasingly tied to the Chinese box office.

Plus, what we can get out of today’s jobs report, diminishing returns on the 10-year T-note and a visit to the dark web.

Economists are tracking other data for clues about where the economy is headed.

When you factor inflation, investors are actually losing money by lending to the U.S. government.

More than 27 million Americans are uninsured, and millions more are underinsured, hampering public health efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

With an entry fee of $4,000 and a guaranteed win of $1,049, racing in the Iditarod requires a lot of cash and commitment.

February jobs report shows no signs of COVID-19. What a state of emergency declaration actually means. How the T-Mobile-Sprint merger could affect cheaper, prepaid phone plans.

The number, coming before the coronavirus outbreak intensified, crushed expectations.

They’re legal tools to help cut through red tape in a disaster, like the COVID-19 outbreak.

The stock market is not getting better Friday morning. Seasonal fluctuations in hiring to start the year. What businesses are doing to prevent outbreaks and avoid legal liability.

Stocks are down yet again amid COVID-19 uncertainty. China prepares to release its latest trade figures. Ahead of International Women’s Day, why there are so few female central bankers.

Sprint sold off one of its prepaid brands, Boost Mobile, to Dish Network.

California reports how often humans have to take over from AI, but there’s no federal standard for that information.

Smoothing over predictable seasonable ups and downs in unemployment can reveal underlying economic trends.

“Deep cleaning” companies are in demand.

People don’t buy and sell anymore. Computers do.

“We’ve had 41 vessel cancellations from the middle of February through April 1,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

Average hourly earnings are rising about 3% per year. In some occupations, gains are much stronger.

The IMF had a call with 189 member countries Tuesday to discuss a coordinated response to COVID-19.

Some states are stepping up their plans to regulate the debt collection industry. Consumer advocates say the moves come at a time when Federal protections are weakening.

Plus, what you need to know about volatility and algorithmic trading in the markets, and the debt collection case in front of the Supreme Court.

“Analysts have their hands in the air,” one investment strategist says as markets struggle to predict the future.

Why we’re so obsessed with our jobs, although they’ll never love us back.

How will COVID-19 be reflected in the jobs report? Michael Bloomberg spends half a billion dollars before dropping out of the 2020 race. What the employment contracts of 18th-century pirates can teach us.

Futures are down today after a Wednesday market boom. Saudi Arabia seeks cuts in oil production as OPEC meets. How COVID-19 is erasing Los Angeles economic activity.

Crude oil prices are down 25% since early January. How Australia’s economy is recovering after the recent bushfires. U.K. regional airline Flybe blames COVID-19 in part for its collapse.

Equality abounded on the open sea.

The city welcomed more than 1 million visitors from China in 2019.

The tech glitches are giving traditional banks a chance to catch up.

Companies are using less oil to make and ship things. As consumers curtail travel, they use less oil, too.

Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped out of the presidential race after spending a record half a billion dollars.

Only a quarter of Americans think mental health services are accessible.

There was talk that OPEC and Russia might together cut the world’s supply of oil by one million barrels a day.

Today we’ll talk through equity index futures and what they can tell us about the economy. Plus, how airlines and OPEC are reacting to COVID-19.

IATA, which speaks for airlines, wants them to be released from minimum airport usage requirements.

As trade talks get underway between the U.K. and the EU, some say Britain might be better off with fewer European imports.

They can indicate where the market is going to open, but they’re not a crystal ball.

From miners to CEO’s, photographer Chris Crisman collected images and essays from 60 women working a variety of jobs across the country.

Last year, after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 went into effect, a lot of people saw their tax refunds shrink or disappear.

Can Super Tuesday results be seen in the stock market? Italy calls for two-week closure of schools and universities because of COVID-19. How Beijing is operating with the absence of migrant workers.

The nearly 170 million Chinese who travel a long way to work are having a tough time returning to their jobs because of quarantine areas.

Americans without insurance are less likely to seek medical care.

Investors flock to bonds. How Americans without health insurance will handle virus testing and treatment. Chinese migrant workers turn to their savings to combat the effects of quarantines.

India has restricted the export of some drug ingredients and medicines because of COVID-19. Africa-based airlines have so far lost $400 million. How Beijing’s shopkeepers are faring in the face of the coronavirus.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury dipped below 1% Tuesday.

Claire Schmidt developed an online program so you can skip the intimidating HR visit at work.

The U.S. government may need to spend its way out of a coronavirus-induced slowdown.

To try and contain the economic fallout of COVID-19, the Federal Reserve just cut rates by a half point. Today, what that means and why it matters.

When it comes to the global economic outlook, words matter.

They interact with the public and handle food, but often have no safety net to fall back on.

Kai Ryssdal spoke with former member of the Federal Reserve Board Daniel Tarullo about today’s emergency rate cut.

In a COVID-19 outbreak, what if the economy needs more than the Fed can give? Plus, the reaction from the G-7 and the Treasury.

The IRS is trying to modernize its computer systems and improve customer service — with a smaller budget and workforce.

Fed cuts interest rates by half a percentage point. Amazon cracks down on those selling COVID-19-related products at inflated prices. Quebec, Canada, as a potential giant storage battery to fight climate change.

“A half a point is not going to cure anybody,” said Karen Petrou, managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics.

Wind and solar resources in New England and New York fluctuate. One way to manage this uncertainty is trading with Quebec.

The company says it has recently blocked or removed tens of thousands of listings for such products, like face masks and hand sanitizer.

G-7 leaders hold an emergency call on how to lift the global economy amid virus threats. What COVID-19 is doing to supply chains. And what travel insurance will and will not cover.

Australia’s central bank cuts interest rates. The airline industry asks regulators to suspend rules on takeoff and landing slots. Paris could ban patio heaters due to climate concerns.

Consultation, yes. Diagnosis, maybe not.

Viral outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics are not typically listed in a travel insurance policy.

Once upon a time, GE put share owners last in line for company revenues. That changed in the ’80s and ’90s.

Businesses are making plans for employees to work outside of the office … and it just might stick.

Some designers and industry leaders are making their runway shows more environmentally friendly.

Our China correspondent, Jennifer Pak, on life in Shanghai right now.

Thanks to COVID-19. Plus: The mood in Shanghai, Jack Welch’s legacy at GE and how Judge Judy made a fortune in syndication.

A former New Orleans parole officer reflects on what could be done better to help parolees stay out of jail and build new lives.

There will be reruns of “Judge Judy,” along with a new show, “Judy Justice.”

U.S. 10-year interest rate probes new lows. Worker sick days in the context of COVID-19. Travel industry grapples with cancellations, changes amid the outbreak.

Welch led General Electric for two decades, during which the company’s market value soared from $12 billion to $410 billion.

Vegans and dairy farmers in the U.K. vie for the high moral ground.

A trade war, the overvaluation of stocks and the 2020 election have also contributed to uncertainty.

Fresh economic forecasting from the OECD points to global growth slowdown. Market volatility beyond the coronavirus. The British food industry adapts to veganism.

Customers and airlines alike are growing more cautious about international travel.

Financial markets open higher after losses last week. British negotiators arrive in Brussels to begin talks about a new trade deal with the EU. Overnight sleeper trains in Europe are making a comeback.

Residents are being asked to supply a lot more personal information to both companies and the government.