Bz Nwz




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Nigeria

Africa – Investment flows overtake aid flows
Rail – Million barrels of oil per day by train in US
Oil – US Imports From Opec Have Plunged to a 28-Year Low



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Q4: Tankan businesses spending plans flat; 12 from 12 / B / AP

SK – Mar: Exports, half of the economy, declined; -4.2% from -3.3% / WSJ

China – Mar: Official Manufacturing PMI Rebounds; 50.1 from 49.9 / WSJ / R / AFP / AP / X *

Turkey – 2014: Growth slows; +2.9% from +4.4% / FT

Russia – Q4: Economy Unexpectedly Expanded; +0.4% from +0.9% / B

EZ – Mar: Markit Manufacturing Activity Picks Up; 52.2 from 51.0 / WSJ

US – Mar: Markit factory activity at five-month high; 55.7 from 55.1 / R

US – Mar: ISM manufacturing slipped; 51.5 from 52.9 / AP / b *

US – Mar: ADP Private-Sector Jobs Rise at Mediocre Pace; +189k from +214k / WSJ / ft / R / AP / r *

US – Feb: Construction spending falls for second straight month; -0.1% from -1.7% / R



---

MARKETS

World – Investors Across the Globe Join the Party WSJ *

World – Global stock market by country / bespoke * *

World – Dollar supremacy in forex market affirmed by IMF report FT / WSJ *

World – Forex reserves in EMs begin to shrink FT *

World – Countries with Negative GDP Forecasts / b *



---

ECONOMICS

Africa – Businesses Seek Out New Frontiers WSJ *

Africa – Investment flows overtaken aid flows ct *

Africa – Peaceful Transition Would Be Relative Rarity WSJ *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Nigeria – Buhari triumphs in historic vote FT / WSJ / NYT / R / B / AFP

Nigeria – What to Expect From Vote: Bull to Bear Cases B

Nigeria – Election: ‘A powder keg’ e * * * *

Nigeria – Mapping a nation divided BBC * * *

Nigeria – Oil minister open to publishing audit on ‘missing’ revenue FT *

Nigeria – Oil Price’s Slide Deters Theft WSJ *

Nigeria – Power struggle FT * * *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE




---

LABOR & EDUCATION




---

SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH

Telecoms – Google Pressures AT&T’s Broadband Prices WSJ

Telecoms – Bright House Deal Advances Malone’s Cable Ambitions WSJ *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Rail – Canada grain industry pushing for market-driven reform G&M

Rail – North American Roads Caught by Speed of Crude-Oil Collapse B

Rail – Million barrels of oil per day by train in US r *

Rail – ND’s new oil train safety checks seen missing risks R *

Rail – CN derailment numbers soared before recent crashes R * *



---

COMMODITIES

Diamonds – De Beers Toughens Up Finance WSJ *

Diamonds – India’s polishers lose their sparkle FT / FT / FT *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Shows Signs of Life WSJ / WSJ *

Oil – Support for prices set to fade FT *

Oil – Majors over a barrel due to falling reserves FT * *

Oil – Mapping world transport R *

Oil – US Imports From Opec Have Plunged to a 28-Year Low B *

Oil – Some Energy Companies Find the Going Tough WSJ *

Oil – China fourth biggest producer r *

Oil – Producers Sound Retreat From China WSJ *



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

The patent for toilet paper should settle the over vs under debate t *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: F&B – Alcohol

China – Two thirds of new investors have less than HS education
Ship – Industry anchors itself in the capital markets
Air – Cutting China’s smog will come at a massive cost



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Mar: Price Falls Ease; -0.1% from -0.3% / WSJ / FT / NYT / B / AP *

UK – 2014: Economy grew more than thought; +2.8% was +2.6% / AP / B / AFP

Canada – Jan: Economy shrinks; -0.1% from +0.3% / G&M / FP / CBC

US – Jan: Case-Shiller Home Price Growth Remains Weak; +4.5% from +4.6% / WSJ / AP / B * *

US – Mar: ConfBd consumer confidence surges; 101.3 from 98.8 / R / AP *



---

MARKETS

Currencies – Dollar Watchers Look to IMF WSJ / FT *

Currencies – Use of renminbi in global payments slips FT / WSJ / AFP *

China – Retail Investors Fuel Surge in Stocks WSJ * *

China – Shanghai Index headed higher on new trading accounts / b *

China – Two thirds of new investors have less than HS education / b *

China – 23 Can Make or Break You in the Stock Market B *



---

ECONOMICS

China – Industrial capacity utilization may be near 2008 low / b *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

China – Vietnam Plays Key Role in Aid Battle WSJ *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

China – To Begin Deposit Insurance in May WSJ / B *

China – Big Banks Double Their Write-offs WSJ

China – Slowing Economy Hits Profits of Big Banks WSJ / WSJ

China – AgBank profits fall as weak economy spurs defaults FT / WSJ *

China – “Banking Intrigue Index” / t *



---

REAL ESTATE

China – “Golden years” for construction machinery have ended, says Zoomlion WSJ

China – Developers face more price pain FT

China – Lends a Hand to Debt-Laden Real-Estate Companies WSJ

China – Loosens Home-Buying Rules WSJ / FT / B / b *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

China – A working-age population projection / vt *



---

SERVICES

F&B – MillerCoors Caught in a Downdraft WSJ *

F&B – Top Beer Brands Soon to List Calories WSJ *

F&B – Betting on the Growth of Microbreweries NYT / cd * *

F&B – Americans tap into the case for craft beer r *

F&B – Alcohol Options for Health-Conscious Drinkers NYT *

F&B – Beer Giants Cultivate Their Crafty Side WSJ *

F&B – Ontario’s Beer Bottleneck Is Under Siege by Brewers and Buyers NYT

F&B – Australian wine exports rebound as China chooses cheaper tipples R / FT *

F&B – Japan’s wine industry / r *

F&B – Diet Coke Loses #2 Soda Spot in US to Pepsi WSJ / 538 * *

F&B – Coke’s Solution for Lost Fizz? More Soda WSJ *



---

MANUFACTURING

Ships – Owner warns private equity to stop backing new vessels FT

Ships – Demolition Rates Surge WSJ



---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Five-year itch in PE marriage FT

Ship – Industry anchors itself in the capital markets FT *



---

COMMODITIES

China – Copper finance incentives hurt demand FT

China – Demand hits palladium and platinum FT

China – Food Giant Explores Deals in US WSJ *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Air – Cutting China’s smog will come at a massive cost B * *

Air – Litigation Awaits New EPA Emissions Rules WSJ



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

How to drink beer like a local around the world wapo * * * * * * *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Australia

Ship – Deep Freeze on Great Lakes Halts Cargo Shipments
Coffee – Weak Brazilian real drags down prices
H5N2 – Minnesota finds third bird flu infection



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Feb: Industrial Output Falls; -3.4% from +3.7% / WSJ / AFP / B

Brazil – Q4: Economy ekes out growth; +0.3%, -0.2% yr / FT / WSJ

US – Feb: Consumer Spending Up; +0.1% from -0.2% / WSJ / B *

US – Feb: Pending home sales at 20-month high; +3.1% from +1.2% / B / AP *



---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Australia – Iron ore no longer biggest export SMH / SMH / smh *

Australia – Warning of a poorer future FT * * *

Australia – Layoffs and empty streets as boom towns go bust R

Australia – TPP could require millions to subsidise medicines ABC

NZ – Economy on front foot as Australia falters FT * * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY

RBA – In Australia, More Rate Cuts Become a Matter of When, Not If wsj



---

FINANCE

World – ‘Time for one-stop banks to make bold changes’ FT * * * * *



---

REAL ESTATE

Australia – Property shines despite wavering economy N *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

Australia – $100,000 Bricklayers Are Hot Property WSJ *



---

SERVICES

Ads – Publishers and adblockers are in online battle FT * * *

Ads – Facebook Woos Chinese Advertisers WSJ *

Ads – Google Fiber may help it break into TV advertising WSJ *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Owners must consolidate to survive downturn, says Wilbur Ross FT

Ship – Europe’s Cargo Vessels Diverted to Sea Rescues WSJ

Ship – Deep Freeze on Great Lakes Halts Cargo Shipments NYT

Ship – Canal boom in central America FT *



---

COMMODITIES

Corn – Dive in Prices Leads Farmers to Soybeans WSJ *

Orange Juice – Ends in Bull Market WSJ *

Coffee – Weak Brazilian real drags down prices FT * *

Cocoa – Ivory Coast wants to cash in on chocolate AFP

Cocoa – CME and ICE to go head to head with new contracts FT * *

Palm Oil – Foreign Investors Lured By Wild Ride WSJ *

Rubber – Prices remain soft N *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Coal – Producers face prolonged weakness in prices E *

Coal – Japan Continues Embrace WSJ

Coal – India Rises as Importer WSJ / FT * *



---

HEALTH

H5N2 – Mexico Eased US Poultry Ban B

H5N2 – Minnesota finds third bird flu infection AP / R



---

ENDNOTE

US once wanted to build a canal across Nicaragua, too wapo *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: HigherEd

Currencies – As Dollar Heats Up Overseas, US Manufacturers Feel a Chill
SK – A once fearsome economy struggles
Retail – Specter of deflation hits Chinese luxury



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Feb: Nears deflation as core CPI hits zero; 0% from 0.2% / FT / WSJ / AP / R / B *

US – Q4: Economic growth slows; +2.2% was +2.2% / R / B / AP / WSJ / FT / NYT *

US – Mar: UMich Consumer Sentiment Index Falls; 93.0 from 95.4 / R / WSJ / AP / cr *



---

MARKETS

Currencies – The Yuan Strikes Back WSJ *

Currencies – Sterling’s allure fades as rate rise doves prevail FT *

Currencies – As Dollar Heats Up Overseas, US Manufacturers Feel a Chill NYT *

Currencies – As EMs rise, investors still flee funds ft *



---

ECONOMICS

SK – Seoul Swallows Tough Medicine for Economy WSJ *

SK – Promotion arm ramps up efforts to lure businesses N *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

SK – A once fearsome economy struggles E *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

Mobile Banking – Fed Report Finds Growing Use WSJ / wsj * *



---

REAL ESTATE

SK – Rebound in property market R / r *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

HigherEd – Excellence v equity E * *

HigherEd – Competition among universities has become intense E *

HigherEd – Shifting towards the private sector E *

HigherEd – America: ‘A flagging model’ E *

HigherEd – International Students Stream Into US Colleges WSJ *

HigherEd – US academe gives UK a lesson on bottom line FT *

HigherEd – International students in Japan run into barriers job-hunting N *

HigherEd – Backlash builds over Australian university reforms N *

HigherEd – Australia the most expensive for international students / afp *

HigherEd – The science of international research / N *

HigherEd – Are Publicly Traded, For-Profit Colleges Endangered? IBD

HigherEd – Anxious Freshmen Declare Majors Far Faster WSJ *

HigherEd – College Diplomas, With a Side of Specialized Study WSJ *

HigherEd – Colleges’ New Aid Target: the Middle Class WSJ *

HigherEd – It depends what you study, not where E *

HigherEd – 40 years of college degrees / wapo / npr * *

HigherEd – Where Tech gets their employees / t *

HigherEd – Migration sorting cities into “educated” and “uneducated” / q *

HigherEd – Percentage of degrees conferred to women, by major / rso *



---

SERVICES

Retail – Balance of Power Shifts in Groceries WSJ *

Retail – US consumers: Craft versus Kraft FT * *

Retail – Sales at grocery stores vs. restaurants cd *

Retail – Specter of deflation hits Chinese luxury N *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Auto – Will cheap gas change travel decline? wapo *

Auto – Record traffic is boosting US fuel demand r / cr * *

Truck – ATA Index declined / cr *

Transports – Puts shadow on US equities FT *



---

COMMODITIES




---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Is there such a thing as a skyscraper curse? E *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Japan

Ads – Online revenue at risk in war on ‘click fraud’
TPP – Leaked draft shows investment carve-outs sought
Iron – China’s ore stocks dwindle as price fall scares off buyers



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Germany – Apr: GfK consumer confidence rising; 10.0 from 9.7 / AFP *

US – Mar: Markit services rises to highest since Sept; 58.6 from 57.1 / R *

US – Week: Jobless Claims Decline; -9k to 282k / B / R / WSJ / AP *



---

MARKETS

Japan – Investors shift money from Europe N *

Japan – Shares break free of US, poised for bull run N *

Japan – Hopes for investment, wage hikes fuel Japan stock surge N *

Japan – Bull run may soon take a break N *



---

ECONOMICS

Japan – Recovery Is Complicated by a Decline in Household Savings NYT *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Japan – Abe-Kuroda honeymoon soured by fiscal friction R



---

MONETARY POLICY

BOJ – Inflation promise comes unstuck FT / WSJ / R / NYT / R / B / AFP *

BOJ – The art of Japanese debt juggling FT *



---

FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE




---

LABOR & EDUCATION

Japan – Companies Grant Biggest Pay Raises in Years WSJ / FT / NYT / WSJ / B / N * * *

Japan – Half of corporations meet or beat 2014 raises N *

Japan – ‘Pay hikes boost Abenomics, now reforms are needed’ N *

Japan – Looks to End Taboo on Military Research at Universities WSJ *



---

SERVICES

Ads – Changing TV Landscape Colors ‘Upfront’ Sales Outlook WSJ *

Ads – Hispanics shine amid US television gloom FT * *

Ads – Online revenue at risk in war on ‘click fraud’ R *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

TPP – Leaked draft shows investment carve-outs sought ABC / R

TPP – Deal Seen as Door for Foreign Suits Against US NYT

TPP – Unions Focused on Fighting Trade Deals wsj *



---

COMMODITIES

Iron – China’s ore stocks dwindle as price fall scares off buyers R *

Copper – Miners suspend operations in Chile as heavy rains flood roads R *

Nickel – China: some good news and some not-so-good news R *

Potash – Belaruskali shakes up sector FT *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Prices surge after Saudi air strikes in Yemen R / FT / WSJ / R * *

Oil – China low on storage capacity FT / R *

Oil – US Storage Rises More Than Expected Again B * *

Oil – Mexico expects US swap, another crack in crude export ban R * *

Oil – US Exports Could Reshape World Markets IBD *

Oil – Iran talks puts traders on edge FT *

Oil – Petrobras scandal knocks broader Brazilian industry FT *

Oil – The Energy Bust: How Much Like Tech in 2001? wsj *

Oil – Low returns drag down US shale industry FT



---

HEALTH

Biotech – Stocks Deliver a Dose of Pain WSJ

Biotech – Rally Fuels Bubble Fears WSJ



---

ENDNOTE

The decline of sideburns wapo *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Asean

Streaming – Netflix, Amazon and Hulu No Longer Upstarts
Air – Hub airport competition heats up
NatGas – A glut may be next to flood the world’s energy markets



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Germany – Mar: Ifo business confidence hits eight-month high; 107.9 from 106.8 / R / B / WSJ / AFP * *

US – Feb: Durable-Goods Orders Fall; -1.4% from -0.1% / R / AP / B / WSJ *



---

MARKETS

Currencies – Europe’s Fashion Retailers Under Pressure From Strengthening Dollar WSJ / FT *

Currencies – Dollar’s Rise Stings Africa WSJ *

Currencies – Yuan Facing International Trade Headwinds WSJ *



---

ECONOMICS

Asean – Concerns persist over economic bloc FT * *

Asean – Consumers deliver opportunities for logistics groups FT * * *

Asean – Softening of Chinese economy impacting exporters / N *

Asean – Foreign direct investment inflows / r *

Bangladesh – Fears a Rise in Militancy WSJ / WSJ / FT

Myanmar – Suu Kyi’s search for ‘one brave soldier’ FT * * *

Myanmar – Suu Kyi’s party drops first hints on economic policy N *

Myanmar – An unfinished peace e * * * *

Myanmar – Needs more infrastructure N * *

Myanmar – More process than peace E *

Thailand – Falling Sales Threaten Asean Car-Making Supremacy WSJ *

Thailand – Volatile politics E * * *

Thailand – Rising household debt puts junta in a bind N *

Indonesia – Weak Rupiah Helps Manufacturing Goals WSJ

Vietnam – Opens door to hard money and soft power FT *

Philippines – Hotel boom in Manila offers hope to tourism R *

Philippines – Foreign investors bullish N *

Philippines – Call center sector worries as workers find other callings N * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Asean – Mekong authoritarianism a growing test for western partners FT

Asean – ‘Strongman’ leaders push reform N *



---

MONETARY POLICY

Asean – Interest rate cuts fuel currency slide N *



---

FINANCE

Asia – Steps Up Efforts to Reach the ‘Unbanked’ WSJ *



---

REAL ESTATE




---

LABOR & EDUCATION




---

SERVICES

Streaming – Netflix, Amazon and Hulu No Longer Upstarts NYT

Streaming – TV Services Seek to Sidestep Web Congestion WSJ *

Streaming – CD sales overtaken in US FT / NYT * *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Air – Crash is heavy blow for long-suffering Lufthansa FT *

Air – Labor Strife an Unwelcome Novelty for Emirates Airline WSJ *

Air – Hub airport competition heats up N *



---

COMMODITIES

Crops – Gene-Altered Apples and Potatoes Are Safe, FDA Says NYT *

Crops – China Seeks to Develop Global Seed Power WSJ *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

NatGas – US gas pipeline progresses, to some landowner dismay AP

NatGas – A glut may be next to flood the world’s energy markets DT



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

US presidential candidate announcements: A history of hat throwing e *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: China

Bonds – EZ going long is better than going south
Rare Earths – A Stock Soars After Showing Up on ’60 Minutes’
Oil – Feds’ Fracking Rule Won’t Have Big Impact For Now



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Mar: Flash HSBC PMI contracts to 11-month low; 49.2 from 50.7 / R / WSJ / B / AP * *

EZ – Mar: Markit PMI Strengthens; 54.1 from 53.3 / FT / WSJ / NYT / AP * *

UK – Feb: Inflation falls; zero from +0.3% / WSJ / FT / AP / t *

US – Feb: Consumer Prices Rise For First Time Since October; +0.2% from -0.7% / R / WSJ

US – Jan: Home Prices Rose Less Than Expected; +0.3%, +5.1% yr / B

US – Feb: Sales of New Homes Climb to Seven-Year High; +7.8% / B / R / cr *

US – Mar: Markit factory activity inches up; 55.3 from 55.1 / R / B *



---

MARKETS

Bonds – ECB Stimulus Pushes Investors to Riskier Debt WSJ * *

Bonds – US companies sell record euro debt FT *

Bonds – Market fears liquidity crunch repeat FT * *

Bonds – EZ going long is better than going south R *

Bonds – The credit clock tolls for (some of) thee ft * *

Bonds – China’s market passes property test FT * *



---

ECONOMICS

China – Stumble Is More Than Seasonal WSJ *

China – ADB sees growth of at least 7% for next two years FT

China – Needs Overhaul to Avoid Further Slowdown, OECD Says WSJ

China – Firms Shift Investment From Mines to Trophy Assets WSJ *

China – ‘Wealth is flooding the world’ N * * *

China – All of Asia feeling ‘new normal’ N * * *

China – Slowdown sparks deflation fears N *

China – Japanese slow to open up to growing economic interest N *

China – Resource exporters face a glut as Beijing curbs imports N * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

China – Beijing has lent billions but defaults loom FT * * * * * * * *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE

China – Home Prices Extend Slide WSJ / WSJ * * *

HK – Property boom poised to end as Fed preps for rate hike R



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

HigherEd – China: A surge in US overseas study E *

HigherEd – China’s Anticorruption Campaign Drives Out MBA Students WSJ *

HigherEd – China’s elderly flock back to university FT *



---

SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH

China – Internet: Commerce and control FT * *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




---

COMMODITIES

Rare Earths – A Stock Soars After Showing Up on ’60 Minutes’ B * *

Rare Earths – Production with US import sources / motw *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – India Won’t Pick Up China’s Slack WSJ *

Oil – Price Drop Hurts Spending on Business Investments WSJ *

Oil – Debt Is Sector’s Four-Letter Word B * *

Oil – Majors pile on record debt FT *

Oil – Feds’ Fracking Rule Won’t Have Big Impact For Now IBD *

Oil – Shale producers blame export ban for low US price FT / AP *

Oil – Sands producers face harsh reality of rout B

Oil – US refiners turn to tanker trucks to avoid ‘dumbbell’ crudes R



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Most popular web browser across the world wiki *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Garments

EU – Hotel chains aim small to net millennials
Drones – FAA plans new steps to speed up commercial use
Nuclear – German taxpayers at risk of big exit bill



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Mar: Consumer Confidence Strongest Since 2007; -3.7 from -6.7 / WSJ *

US – Feb: Existing home sales rise marginally; +1.2% / R / AP *



---

MARKETS

Currencies – Torrent of Cash Exits Eurozone WSJ / WSJ
Central Banks are shedding their euros… *
…and the share of total reserves in euros has fallen back from its peak of nearly 28% in 2009… *
…meanwhile, cash is flowing out of eurozone debt faster than it is flowing into stocks. *

Currencies – Stronger dollar weighs on US investment sentiment FT

Currencies – Strong Dollar Hammers Profits at US Multinationals WSJ * *

Currencies – Transatlantic divergence FT * * *



---

ECONOMICS

UK – Exchange rates put squeeze on business FT *

Spain – Low oil prices and weak euro boost recovery FT * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Spain – Socialists Win in Spain’s Andalusia NYT / WSJ

Spain – New Leftist Party Faces First Election WSJ / FT * *

France – Socialists come third in local elections FT / NYT / WSJ

France – Euroskeptic National Front Party Broadens Support WSJ *



---

MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Low Inflation Argues for Patience WSJ *

Fed – CPI vs. PCE: Untangling Inflation Gauges WSJ *



---

FINANCE

EU – Bad Banks Cash In On Investor Demand WSJ



---

REAL ESTATE

EU – Hotel chains aim small to net millennials R *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

EU – Eurozone Wage Growth Slows WSJ / b *

EU – Boasts debunked as France gets last laugh over UK on productivity FT * * * *



---

SERVICES

Drones – FAA plans new steps to speed up commercial use R / NYT

Drones – Technical Hurdles Delay Deliveries WSJ / R *



---

MANUFACTURING

Garments – Feud threatens world’s factory N

Garments – Alliance Sets Plan to Finance Bangladesh Factory Upgrades WSJ

Garments – Vietnam emerges as next big factory floor N

Garments – Cambodia: As worker wages rise, companies seek cheaper pastures N *



---

TECH

PCs – Long-term shipments seen declining worse than expected IBD *

PCs – Apple Sneaks Up BW *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

AVs – Google’s Self-Driving Cars Hit Regulatory Traffic WSJ

AVs – Musk tempers autonomous driving claims FT / NYT

AVs – As Driverless Car Rivalry Emerges, Mobileye Bulls Counter B

AVs – Self-Braking Cars Are Safer, but Do They Boost MPG? WSJ *



---

COMMODITIES

Cocoa – Potential for Bumper Crop Keeps Pressure on WSJ

Tea – Young Americans shift FT *

Sugar – Glut, Sliding Real, Hurt Asian Producers WSJ *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Nuclear – German taxpayers at risk of big exit bill R *

Nuclear – Germany’s Costs Trigger Fears WSJ *



---

HEALTH

Pharma – Apple and Google stake a claim FT *

Pharma – Unfamiliar Biosimilar Threat WSJ *

Pharma – Sector hails ‘sea change’ in heart disease treatment FT / NYT / WSJ



---

ENDNOTE

Colors of the most powerful left-wing parties of Europe reddit *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Shale

World – EMs debt-ridden and heading for a nasty dollar hangover
Rail – Ontario oil-train wrecks ignite worry over Canada crude flammability
Seeds – Asian farmers increasingly using hybrids



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS




---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

World – OECD Raises Economic Growth Forecasts WSJ / FT *

World – A half-century of debt buildups ft *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Russia – EU moves towards extending sanctions FT / WSJ

Russia – EU’s antitrust case threatens to sour relations further FT * * *

Russia – Sows discord in central Europe FT

Russia – How Looming Recession Is Unsettling Boom City WSJ *



---

MONETARY POLICY

World – Yellen battles Draghi in euro-dollar drama FT *

World – Forex Market Erupts on Central-Bank Moves WSJ *

World – EMs debt-ridden and heading for a nasty dollar hangover E * *

World – Big banks braced for rate rise boon FT *



---

FINANCE

Russia – Faces long-term balancing act to prop up embattled banks FT



---

REAL ESTATE




---

LABOR & EDUCATION

Robotics – Experts rethink belief that tech always lifts employment WSJ / WSJ / wsj * * *



---

SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING

Robotics – Co-bots rub shoulders with human buddies FT

Robotics – Google Snubs Rivals, Pentagon WSJ



---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Rail – Ontario oil-train wrecks ignite worry over Canada crude flammability R

Rail – Canada Unveils Tougher Standards for Railcars Carrying Dangerous Goods WSJ

Pipeline – Obama’s newly harsh tone on Keystone seen signaling rejection B

Pipeline – Fight over Keystone doesn’t stall boom AP

Pipeline – Kinder Morgan’s Plan Hits Mountain WSJ



---

COMMODITIES

Seeds – Asian farmers becoming increasingly productive N *

Seeds – Asian farmers increasingly using hybrids N *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Shale – Fracking Rules Expected to Be Unveiled WSJ / R

Shale – Producers pumping 1.7 mbpd too much / r *

Shale – US firms brace for more pain R / FT *

Shale – ‘Fracklog’ rises as producers sit out oil slump FT

Shale – Environmental movement blocks fracking in Algeria’s remote south FT * *

Shale – Non-US Plays Prove Difficult to Crack WSJ / R *

Shale – Deep in the heart of the Texas oil boom G&M *

Shale – Oil Deaths Rise as Bakken Boom Fades WSJ *

Shale – Crude-Oil Price Collapse Takes Toll on Williston WSJ / R * *



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HEALTH




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ENDNOTE

Girl Scout cookies differ by region fd *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Tobacco

Greece – Power Struggle in Brussels and Berlin
EU – Ireland: Recovery spreads beyond Dublin
Mobiles – Smartphone market surpassed a billion last year



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

NZ – Q4: Economy Expands at Fastest Pace Since 2007; +0.8%, +3.5% yr / B

US – Mar: ConfBd Leading Indicators Increase; +0.2% from +0.2% / B / AP / tf *

US – Mar: Philly Fed grows at slower pace; 5.0 from 5.2 / AP *

US – Q4: Current account trade deficit widens; -$114b from -$99b / AP *

US – Week: Jobless Claims Up Slightly; +1k to 291k / WSJ / R / AP *



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MARKETS

Bonds – Strong demand for long-term government debt as risks loom FT * *

Bonds – Investors Raise Alarm Over Liquidity Shortage WSJ / WSJ * *

Bonds – High-yield debt market defies sceptics FT * * *



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ECONOMICS

EU – Forecasts up in Spain & Germany, no change for France, Italy / b *

EU – Ireland: Recovery spreads beyond Dublin FT * *

EU – Ireland: Tradition: a fast-growing economy FT *

EU – Ireland: Launches initiative to lure expats home FT * *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Greece – Bailout Talks Not Going Well WSJ / R / B

Greece – Warnings Raised of a Grexit NYT

Greece – Crisis Tests ECB’s Credibility WSJ / B *

Greece – Power Struggle in Brussels and Berlin S *



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MONETARY POLICY

SR – Sweden Cuts Repo Rate to Minus 0.25% WSJ / FT / B / NYT *

NB – Norway Keeps Rates Unchanged WSJ / B

DN – Denmark Raises Current-Account Ceiling WSJ *

Fed – Drops pledge to be ‘patient’ on rate rises WSJ / FT / NYT / R / B / AP *

Fed – Unemployment rate has exceeded expectations / bi *



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FINANCE




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REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES

E-Cigs – Smokers may tap into multiple sources for nicotine AP

E-Cigs – Makers Face Rise of Counterfeits WSJ

E-Cigs – European Commission considers tax FT

E-Cigs – Suffer withdrawal symptoms FT * *

Cigs – FTC Turns Up Scrutiny on Reynolds-Lorillard Deal WSJ *

Cigs – Study Supports Raising US Tobacco Purchase Age to 21 WSJ

Cigs – Branding on Packages Banned by UK Parliament FT / WSJ

Cigs – Smuggled smokes E *



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MANUFACTURING




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TECH

Mobiles – Five Chipmakers Pursuing China’s Hot Smartphone Market IBD

Mobiles – Smartphone market surpassed a billion last year bi *



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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Finance offers attractive yields FT * * *

Ship – US ports: Gridlock on the waterfront FT * * * *



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COMMODITIES

Eggs – Latest Flap: Whether to Go ‘Cage-Free’ WSJ / WSJ / WSJ



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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Glut set to grow as China slows imports R

Oil – Opec Warns US Boom Could Be Over by Year-End WSJ / R

Oil – Iran’s Nuclear Deal Could Open Flood WSJ *

Oil – Banks Struggle to Unload Loans WSJ *



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HEALTH




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ENDNOTE

Uber beats NY taxis for trips above $35 mit *



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