1. Travel retailers set to cut jobs

Following the announcement of the federal government's $1.2 billion tourism stimulus package yesterday, travel retailers including duty free store Heinemann that weren't included in the package said they would have to cut jobs once JobKeeper finishes at the end of the month. "It’s good to see focused support for the tourism and aviation industry locally, and the flow on effects that will have for some retailers, but this overlooks support for businesses severely impacted by international border closures," Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said.

2. Biden signs US$1.9 trillion stimulus bill

US President Joe Biden has signed his US$1.9 trillion ($2.4 trillion) COVID-19 stimulus package, including US$400 billion in direct payments to most Americans as US$1,400 stimulus cheques. "This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving people in this nation, working people, middle class folks, people who built the country, a fighting chance," Biden said.

3. EU approves Johnson & Johnson's one-dose COVID-19 vaccine

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the use of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine within the European Union, following earlier approvals in the US, Canada and Bahrain. "With this latest positive opinion, authorities across the European Union will have another option to combat the pandemic and protect the lives and health of their citizens," EMA executive director Emer Cooke said. A number of European countries recently announced they had suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following reports of blood clots in vaccine recipients, however the EMA said the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.

4. Commodities trader cops a copper scam

A commodities trader from Geneva, Switzerland said it was a victim of cargo fraud after containers that were supposed to be filled with US$36 million worth of copper began arriving with paving stones that had been painted a copper colour instead. 6,000 tons of the metal in 300 containers was swapped with stones before being shipped from Istanbul to China.

5. New records on Wall Street

The S&P 500 closed up 40.53 points or 1.04% on Thursday to 3,939.34, a new record for the index. The Dow Jones also hit a new record-high close, rising 188.57 points or 0.58% to 32,485.59. The Nasdaq gained 329.84 points or 2.52% to 13,398.67.