NewsWatch: Retail sales crater record 16% in April amid coronavirus lockdowns and spending slump

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MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

Sales at U.S. retailers sank a record 16.4% in April after coronavirus lockdowns shuttered much of the economy, cost millions of jobs and triggered an unprecedented slump in consumer spending. See full story.

Bank of America on the new world order: Bigger governments, tech wars, less privacy, and ‘health the new wealth’

Bank of America says the pandemic will accelerate many macro trends that would have taken five or more years to play out. See full story.

French government’s Sanofi bashing smacks of hypocrisy

French President Emmanuel Macron was reportedly “angry” when he heard that the French pharmaceutical was considering making the U.S. market a priority for the manufacturing and distribution of its eventual coronavirus vaccine. See full story.

In a replay of 2008, toxic subprime loans could worsen this financial crisis

Stakes are high for yield-hungry buyers of CLOs of leveraged corporate debt, writes Satyajit Das. See full story.

Got enough cash to weather this storm? See how your liquid net worth stacks up against everybody else

Obviously, net worth tends to be the measurement of choice when comparing wealth. And in this age of extreme wealth inequality, the median net worth for U.S. households — straight up assets minus liabilities — comes in at a $97,290, according to the Survey of Consumer Finances. But here’s why liquid net worth is a better measure. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Obviously, net worth tends to be the measurement of choice when comparing wealth. And in this age of extreme wealth inequality, the median net worth for U.S. households — straight up assets minus liabilities — comes in at a $97,290, according to the Survey of Consumer Finances. But here’s why liquid net worth is a better measure. See full story.