Today’s Issue Cluster: Brazil
Tobacco – Experts increasingly contemplate end of smoking
Cable – A Bigger Comcast May Beget More Deals
Metals – Copper: Chinese imports herald renewed market tension
Japan – Q4: Growth Figures Disappoint; +1.0% from +1.1% / WSJ / AP / R / B / NYT / K *
China – Jan: Lending soars to four-year high; Y1.32t from Y.48t / WSJ / FT / R
China – Jan: FDI rose; +16.1% from +3.3% / R / CD *
Thailand – Q4: GDP Growth Slows as Unrest Increases Rate-Cut Pressure; +0.6% from 1.4% / B / R
EU – Jan: Auto Sales Rise for a Fifth Straight Month; +5.5% / NYT
Germany – Feb: ZEW Economic Expectations Fall Sharply; 55.7 from 61.7 / WSJ / AP / R / B
Germany – 2013: Home Prices Rose Most in Decade on Cheap Finance; +4% / B
UK – Jan: Inflation within target for 1st time in 4 years; 1.9% from 2.0% / AP / R / WSJ / B
UK – Feb: House Prices Rise Again; +3.3% from +1.0% / WSJ
Sweden – Jab: Inflation Rate Fall Puts Pressure on Riksbank; +0.2% / WSJ / r *
US – Feb: NAHB homebuilders plunge into pessimism; 46 from 56 / WSJ / R *
US – Feb: NY Fed manufacturing growth slows; 4.48 from 12.51 / R *
US – Dec: Foreign demand for assets falls / R *
EMs – Rebound triggers bargain assets hunt FT *
Japan – Driving Past the Speed Bump WSJ / FT / NYT / R / N / b / b * * * * *
US – Severe winter masks economic recovery FT / WSJ / B / b * *
EZ – Recovery Picks Up Slightly WSJ *
Italy – Renzi sets out plans for first 100 days FT / WSJ / NYT / R / AP / B
BOJ – Stands pat on policy, extends special loan schemes R / B / WSJ / FT / AP / WSJ / N / K
BOJ – Fed Shows Need For More Easing Amid Yen Rally B *
World – Banks braced for multibillion-dollar forex fines FT *
Brazil – Housing bubble fears as economy teeters FT
Brazil – Wave of hotel mergers brews as middle class grows R
Brazil – Banks Could Owe More Than $140b WSJ
Brazil – Economy Seen in a Major Downturn WSJ / FT *
Brazil – Dilma’s Tight Skirt e *
Brazil – A parched southern summer may cause electricity crisis E / R *
Brazil – New World Cup Woe: Transport WSJ / G *
Tobacco – Experts increasingly contemplate end of smoking AP
Marijuana – US to let banks do business with licensed pot shops FT / WSJ / B / AP / NYT / R
Planes – Small-Aircraft Makers Score Big Orders in Asia WSJ / R / WSJ
Cable – A Bigger Comcast May Beget More Deals NYT *
Cable – Comcast-TWC Deal Opens Door for Net Neutrality WSJ
Cable – Charter looks for way back into Time Warner deal FT *
Cable – As Services Expand, Bills Keep Rising NYT
Cable – Raising consumer concerns over broadband pricing FT *
Ship – Ports, Shipping Companies Retool for Bigger Panama Canal WSJ
Metals – Platinum: South Africa mine strikes boost price hopes FT *
Metals – Gold: Demand falls 15% in 2013 FT / WSJ
Metals – Gold and Silver: Fever Returns WSJ *
Metals – Copper: Chinese imports herald renewed market tension r * *
Metals – Indonesian minerals ban bites as well as barks r *
Electricity – California’s Freeze-Dried Power Market WSJ *
Electricity – Crisis-hit European utilities square up to technological revolution FT FT * *
US – Workers at Volkswagen Reject Forming a Union WSJ / FT / R / NYT / AP
US – Labor Regroups in South After VW Vote FT / WSJ / R / NYT *
Obesity – As World’s Kids Get Fatter, Doctors Turn to the Knife WSJ *
The Most Popular Winter Olympic Sport In Every Country bi *
