Wednesday's News Links

[Yahoo/Bloomberg] U.S. Stocks Advance on Vaccine Hope, FedEx Surge: Markets Wrap

[Reuters] Global shares begin second half with a whimper despite positive data

[Reuters] U.S. employers announced more job cuts in June: report

[CNBC] Mortgage demand falls for the second straight week, signaling a potential slowdown in the housing recovery

[Reuters] U.S. coronavirus cases rise by 47,000, biggest one-day spike of pandemic

[Reuters] Asia's factory pain eases as region emerges from pandemic

[Reuters] China's factory activity expands, but job losses quicken amid weak exports: Caixin PMI

[Reuters] Pandemic sinks Japan business mood to lowest since 2009 crisis

[CNBC] Coronavirus live updates: South Korea reports uptick in cases; Texas posts another record rise

[Bloomberg] U.S. States Beg, Borrow and Cut to Close Massive Budget Gaps

[WSJ] Specialty Lenders Face Funding Challenge as Covid-19 Boosts Defaults

[WSJ] No End in Sight for Big Oil’s Write-Downs

[FT] US Main Street lending facility draws little interest

[FT] Global dealmaking drops to lowest level in over a decade

[FT] US-China spat puts future of Hong Kong dollar in the spotlight