By Peter Nurse
Rolling updates on the latest developments and headlines from around the world on the Covid-19 pandemic.
01:40 AM ET: Japanese car sales slumped 28.6% in April from a year ago
Japanese auto sales fell 28.6% in April from the same period a year ago, industry data showed on Friday, as vehicle purchases dropped after a state of emergency was called earlier in the month due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Sales totalled 270,393 vehicles last month, data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and an association representing dealers of so-called "kei" mini cars showed, compared with sales of 378,687 vehicles in the same period a year earlier.
01:24 AM ET: Moderna and Lonza sign deal to manufacture potential coronavirus vaccine
Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Lonza Group (SIX:LONN) said on Friday they would accelerate the manufacturing of the U.S. drug developer's potential coronavirus vaccine.
The experimental vaccine, mRNA-1273, is being tested in early-stage trial by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, with Moderna expecting to begin mid-stage trial in the second quarter.
01:21 AM ET: Gaming revenue in Macao plunges 96.8% in April
Gambling revenue in Macau plunged 96.8% in April year-on-year, with casinos reeling in the world's biggest casino hub as authorities imposed a raft of measures to keep visitors away to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
01:06 AM ET: Australia to consider next week whether to ease restrictions
Australia will consider next Friday whether to relax coronavirus-related mobility restrictions, as the growth rate of new infections slows, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday following a national cabinet meeting.
01:03 AM ET: South Korea’s exports suffer worst contraction for 11 years
South Korea’s exports slumped 24.3% year-on-year in April, trade ministry data showed on Friday, the worst contraction since May 2009. It slid 0.7% in the previous month.
01:00 AM ET: Japan’s factory activity shrinks in April at faster pace
Japan's factory activity shrank faster than initially estimated in April, a manufacturing survey showed on Friday, as the coronavirus hit to the world’s third largest economy deepened, with declines in product orders and output accelerating.
The final au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index fell to a seasonally adjusted 41.9 from a final 44.8 in March, its lowest since April 2009, and showing a steeper contraction than the 43.7 seen in a preliminary reading last week.
00:53 AM ET: One in three Australians financially worse off due to pandemic - survey
One in three Australians reported a deterioration in household finances in the month to mid-April, an official survey showed on Friday, as the COVID-19 pandemic shut businesses and forced many people into the unemployment queue.
00:49 AM ET: Experts call for Japan to keep current containment policies
It’s desirable for Japan to keep its current framework of coronavirus containment policies until the number of new infections fall to a certain level, said Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, citing the country’s coronavirus experts.
Speaking at a news conference, Nishimura added the government would hold an advisory committee meeting to decide on its policy before the current state of emergency ends on May 6.
