“As of today, in the European Union, we’re on course for a 5% to 10% (recession), meaning it’s about 7.5%. But that is today, and if things don’t improve and if we have a second peak (of the outbreak), things could get worse”, Breton said.

EBRD shareholders agreed to a comprehensive series of response and recovery measures that strengthen the Bank’s Solidarity Package , which was first unveiled on 13 March. The Bank now stands ready to provide support worth €21 billion over the 2020-21 period.

the euro weakened after a European Union meeting on Thursday to build a trillion euro emergency fund

The euro was last at $1.07795, with investors awaiting the result of a meeting of European Union leaders on the bloc’s response to the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic.

Nuclear power will play an important role in meeting the Europe's climate targets.

U.S. petroleum demand declined to 19.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) in March, which was a 4.6% decrease from February

the pan-European STOXX 600 index rose over 1% in early trade, spurred by a drop in the virus death tolls in both Spain and Italy and reassuring statements from two of the continent’s big budget airlines about their survival prospects.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 1.6%, after surging almost 8% since April 6 on early signs the health crisis was ebbing and on hopes that sweeping lockdown measures would soon be lifted.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 4.2%, with energy .SXEP, autos .SXAP, insurers .SXIP and financials .SXFP jumping between 5.4% and 6.7%.

European gas stock levels for both January and February 2020 were the highest ever recorded for those months.