We have seen western governments try to help employees who have been off work because the most effective manner to combat the coronavirus is to keep 6 feet away from other people. The US has given out more than $2.3 trillion in loans and grants and more is coming. Now imagine what non western countries are doing, because they have the same concerns but less resources to implement the stay at home policies.

In an article by Geoffrey York of the Globe and Mail, African countries are seeking to raise between $100 and $150 billion in financial help from a wide range of lenders as a projected 20 million people will lose their jobs. African countries are looking at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the New Development Bank – created by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, everyone around the world is facing the same virus, yet the President of the US thinks only his country is facing the problems of the coronavirus and its economic declines. From an investor point of view, for most companies in the S&P 500, Africa is not a large market but diversification is a wonderful thing, until the world faces the small problem.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.