At least for the very short term, as in one week, it seems the Federal Reserve bazooka worked to help calm financial markets, which continue to be in turmoil over the spread of coronavirus. For those who need a reminder, the Fed lowered the benchmark funds rate effectively to zero and made itself ready to lend as needed, through the purchase of nearly $1 trillion in Treasury and mortgage securities. (For more on the opening of Fed coffers, pls see page 6 of the previous issue, March 21.)

Of course, part of the credit for last week’s bounce in U.S. equities must be given (or should it be blamed?) on the U.S. Federal government, which like the Fed the week before, has also opened the spigots of government largesse with a $2 trillion rescue plan. I say blame not in gest. U.S. debt is ballooning to levels few thought possible just a few months ago. How this debt will be paid is hard to imagine, though you can be sure the politicians enacting it now won’t be paying for it. It will be the next generation.

On NBC’s Today show Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the U.S. economy “may well be in a recession.” He immediately followed that up with a notion the central bank is taking unprecedented action to help ensure economic activity can resume as soo...

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