Companies Hit Pause Button as Coronavirus Infects Global Economy
Layoffs, cutting costs and halting dividends, companies are scrambling to adapt as the coronavirus emergency hits demand and the draconian measures taken to contain the spread of the illness undercut production and demand.
With the economic impact of the coronavirus threatening the survival of many firms, governments have pledged tens of billions to help them limp along or failing that, to bankroll outright rescues or nationalization if necessary.
Several industrial giants, in particular in the automobile industry, have reduced or even suspended production.
Nissan suspended production at its Sunderland plant in northern England, the automaker's biggest plant in Europe, employing about 7,000 workers, and has closed plants in Spain and Indonesia as well.
French automobile manufac...
