The broad economic effect of the coronavirus is not yet known, and it might not be fully realized for quite some time. What does this mean for adhesives and sealants companies?

FEICA, the Association of the European Adhesive and Sealant Industry, recently announced that the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the cancellation of its European Adhesive & Sealant Conference and EXPO.

ExxonMobil recently announced it is reducing its 2020 capital spending by 30% and lowering cash operating expenses by 15% in response to low commodity prices resulting from oversupply and demand weakness from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that housing stands poised to lead the economic rebound once social distancing and other virus mitigation efforts show success in containing the coronavirus pandemic.

A global emphasis on working from home, combined with advice to minimize COVID-19 transmission from shared surfaces even within a home, will help cement the benefits of smart home voice control for millions of consumers.

Though the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 are horrible, I find it gratifying to see the drive, determination, and oftentimes ingenuity that these companies are displaying for the good of us all.

Jovita Carranza, Small Business Association (SBA) administrator, and Steven T. Mnuchin, Treasury Department secretary, recently announced that the SBA and Treasury Department have initiated a robust mobilization effort of banks and other lending institutions to provide small businesses with the capital they need as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

I profoundly hope that you are reading this issue of ASI in good health and from the safety of your own home. The last few weeks have seen an unprecedented global response to the threat of COVID-19—from school, restaurant, and facility closings to innumerable event postponements and cancellations.