To the Point
Is the Global Economy Still Stuck in Recession?
After three years of smooth sailing on Wall Street, investors were almost complacent, but then the New York Stock Exchange began to jump up and down. On October 8th, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had its best day of the year. Last week, it suffered its worst loss. Is worldwide economic recovery being put on hold?
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenAfter three years of smooth sailing on Wall Street, investors were almost complacent, but then the New York Stock Exchange began to jump up and down. On October 8th, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had its best day of the year. Last week, it suffered its worst loss. That’s “volatility” by anyone’s definition, especially when the US economy is humming along. But Europe’s in big trouble—and Asia is in a stall. We’ll look at other signs that are giving investors the jitters. Is worldwide economic recovery being put on hold?
Also, Turkey allows Kurdish fighters inside its borders to fight the Islamic State, and two West African countries have stopped Ebola “dead in its tracks.”
Banner Image: Traders gather at the post that trades IBM on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange October 20, 2014. U.S. stocks were mixed on Monday, as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq advanced, but the Dow fell as quarterly results from IBM disappointed. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
In this episode
3 storiesTurkey Appears to Give In on Aid to Kurdish Fighters
After weeks of resisting any military role in the Syrian war, Turkey will allow Kurdish forces to cross its border and fight the so-called Islamic State in the besieged town of Kobane. Last night, the US dropped tons of arms, ammunition and medical supplies to the Kurds.
Read the story7 minWild Swings in Global Markets Have Led to Fears of a Worldwide Slowdown
“It wasn’t very long ago that the dread hovering over global financial markets was that things were getting too calm.” This summer, Federal Reserve officials were worried about complacency. Those days are very definitely over. America’s economy is finally looking good, but Wall Street’s sudden volatility is a signal that all is not well.
Read the story36 minNigeria and Senegal Case Studies in Ebola Crisis Response
In August, the World Health Organization had a dire warning: Ebola might become unstoppable after it reached Lagos, Nigeria—Africa’s biggest city, where millions live in slums and shantytowns. Now, the WHO says, “world-class epidemiological detective work” has stopped Ebola “dead in its tracks”—not just in Nigeria, but in Senegal as well.
Read the story8 min
