Good morning from the newsroom of the Financial Times.

Today is Thursday, February 27th,

and this is your FT news briefing.

President Donald Trump downplays the criticism

over how his administration is handling the threat of the

coronavirus. Investors bet that central banks will come to the rescue of

financial markets in response to the outbreak. Microsoft says it could feel a

sting from COVID-19's effect on supply chains and

Walmart might be making moves to sell off a major UK asset. The F.T's

Alistair Gray will have more.

I'm Mark Filipino, and here's the news you need to start your day.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke for nearly an hour about how his administration is

handling the coronavirus outbreak in America.

The bottom line, he says everything is under control.

We're very, very ready for this, for anything, whether it's going to be a breakout of larger

proportions or whether or not we're, you know, we're at that very low level. That was Mr. Trump at a press conference yesterday.

The president has been criticized for his approach to the seriousness of the situation.

The White House has asked Congress for two and a half billion dollars to tackle the crisis.

Top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said the country would need six billion more.

Earlier this week, health officials at the Center for Disease Control said Americans should prepare for the outbreak to spread.

But when this was brought up during Wednesday's press conference, Mr. Trump deflected.

Well, I don't think it's inevitable. It will it possibly will it could be at a

...