Governments and central banks are injecting eye-popping sums into markets and applying emergency policy remedies as they try to salve the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy.
The pandemic which has upended all normal life has seen markets crash as world growth faces its biggest crisis since 2008, and so far investors have largely shrugged off the stimulus efforts as the outbreak engulfs the West.
However, stocks in Europe and the US stabilised on Thursday following new initiative from the European Central Bank, which has faced criticism for not acting more aggressively so far, and another intervention by the Bank of England.
AFP surveys responses by major economies as the coronavirus has spread from China to infect the rest of the world, enforcing national lockdowns and crippling businesses.
After China, Europe is now the epicentre of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and governments have scrambled to open the spending taps while also closing their borders.
The ECB announced late on Wednesday a surprise $820-billion scheme to buy government and corporate bonds, boosting funds in the system so as to help contain the economic damage from the virus.
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The eurozone bank is reviving crisis-era measures to encourage bank lending to companies, but caused some disquiet last week by keeping its borrowing rates on hold.
Meanwhile the Bank of England cut Thursday its main interest rate to a record-low 0.1 percent from 0.25 percent, only eight days after having chopped the interest rate from 0.50 percent. It also plans to buy an additional $235 billion in government and corporate debt.
European governments have stepped up with their own plans, with Chancellor Angela Merkel warning Wednesday that Germany faces its biggest test since World War II.
Berlin has unveiled 550 billion euros in government-backed loans "for starters", and suspended legal obligations for firms facing acute liquidity problems to file for bankruptcy.
Britain its providing 330 billion pounds of government-backed loans to businesses, while France will guarantee 300 billion euros in loans to firms and has announced a separate aid package worth 45 billion euros to help businesses and employees cope.
In hardest-hit Italy, the government has promised to deliver a "very strong injection of liquidity" into the financial system to generate 340 billion euros in cash flows.
Spain plans to guarantee up to 100 billion euros in corporate loans.
Switzerland's central bank said Thursday it would intervene more strongly to stabilise its franc, while Norway is also considering intervention as the krone plunges.
Russia is using its foreign currency reserves to prop up the ruble and is also compensating oil producers directly when oil prices fall below $25 per barrel, as they did on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said officials were drawing up a package that could surpass $1 trillion, on top of $300 billion in deferred tax payments.
The measures -- far surpassing aid during the 2008 financial crisis meltdown -- are likely to include direct cash payments to struggling families.
The package is in addition to $100 billion directed at paid sick leave and expanded unemployment benefits signed into law by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
A bailout for US airlines could also be in the works, after Mnuchin said they face a crisis now "worse than 9/11".
The Federal Reserve has taken interest rates down to virtually zero, and massively increased cash injections into financial markets, including an additional $1.5 trillion last week and $1 trillion so far this week.
The US central bank also unveiled a new credit facility to help households and businesses stay afloat, while President Donald Trump has shifted his tone after downplaying the outbreak for weeks, now appealing for bipartisan support.
Trump ordered the suspension of evictions and mortgage foreclosures for six weeks as part of the government effort to ease the pain.
On Thursday the Federal Reserve unveiled measures to help money market mutual funds, a popular investment tool, which has seen huge demand to exit as households and small businesses scramble for cash.
Canada on Wednesday announced an aid package of Can$27 billion (US$19 billion) plus more in tax deferrals, and has also cut interest rates.
The International Monetary Fund is making $50 billion available for poorer countries, and has appealed for a "global response" of the kind seen after the 2008 crash.
G7 leaders including Trump on Monday vowed to "do whatever it takes, using all policy tools" to safeguard growth, but offered no concerted action plan.
G20 nations rallied together to combat the 2008 crisis, but the group has been absent from the triage effort so far this time.
China, ground zero of the virus outbreak with more than 3,000 deaths, has cut interest rates and vowed a range of measures including tax cuts and more fiscal transfers from Beijing to virus-hit regions.
New Zealand Tuesday raided its "rainy day" fund to release US$7.3 billion in stimulus spending. Last week, Australia unveiled a US$11 billion spending plan to help avert its first recession in 29 years. Japan is offering at least $15 billion in loan programmes for firms.
Hong Kong's government is giving a cash handout to every permanent resident, with a recession brought on by months of political protests now exacerbated by the coronavirus.