Archive for March, 2015

4 March 2015

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Autos

Japan – Global investors focusing on dividends
TPP – Accord before April unlikely
Japan – Consumers taking breather, waiting for pay hikes


MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Feb: HSBC services PMI edges up; 52.0 from 51.8 / R *

Australia – Q4: Growth Slows; +0.5% from +0.3% / WSJ *

US – Feb: ADP private sector adds jobs but growth slows; +212k from +250k / R / AP *

US – Feb: ISM service sector activity ticks up; 56.9 from 56.7 / R *

US – Feb: Markit services sector activity rises; 57.1 from 54.2 / R *


MARKETS

Japan – Pension funds overpower Kuroda’s misfiring bazooka FT * * *

Japan – Global investors focusing on dividends N / N *

Japan – Yen in for rough ride N *


ECONOMICS

Japan – Economy is no longer stuck in reverse N *

Japan – Consumers taking breather, waiting for pay hikes N *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Japan – Youth Stand to Gain Stronger Voice WSJ *


MONETARY POLICY

BOJ – Abe Aims to Tip Balance WSJ / N


FINANCE

Japan – Loan demand is unlikely to pick up quickly FT


REAL ESTATE

Japan – REITs accelerate capital increase N *


LABOR & EDUCATION

Japan – Wage growth fastest in 15 years FT

Japan – Abe needs salaries to rise to boost the economy FT / WSJ * * *


SERVICES



MANUFACTURING

Autos – Tech: Rumors fuel Geneva debate about Apple car of future R / NYT / WSJ

Autos – Tech: Detroit hits the road to Silicon Valley FT * *

Autos – EVs: Resale Prices Tumble WSJ *

Autos – EVs: Apple Wants to Start Producing Cars as Soon as 2020 B / NYT / FT

Autos – EVs: ‘The established carmakers, not tech firms, will win the race’ E * *

Autos – US: Sales Lose Steam WSJ / FT / R / AP / NYT *

Autos – US: GM Quarterly Profit Tops Expectations WSJ *

Autos – US: Car Exports Top 2m WSJ *

Autos – US: UAW says raise worker pay, keep companies competitive R *

Autos – Mexico: An emerging giant powers past Canada G&M * *

Autos – EU: Budget Brands Keep Gaining WSJ *

Autos – EU: Peugeot finds road to recovery FT * *

Autos – Russia: Sales Skid Lower WSJ *

Autos – China: Domestic Brands Fall Farther Behind WSJ / CD *

Autos – China: Dealers seek big incentives from foreign carmakers N *

Autos – China: Important for restoring Cadillac brand WSJ *

Autos – China: Sales to continue rise / *

Autos – India: Makers ramp up production as demand keeps growing N *

Autos – Indonesia: GM to end vehicle manufacturing FT / R / N / N

Autos – Indonesia: GM had high hopes for low-end minivan N *

Autos – Thailand: After Indonesia retreat, GM retrenches again R

Autos – Honda: Names New President WSJ *

Autos – SUVs: Carmakers embrace consumer shift FT / AP

Autos – SUVs: 4×4 vehicles: CO too much? FT *

Autos – Aluminum: Light-Weight Parts Fuels Hunt for New Process WSJ

Autos – Carbon: Carmakers seek to use fibre in mass-market vehicles FT


TECH



TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

TPP – Accord before April unlikely N / AP *


COMMODITIES



ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT



HEALTH



ENDNOTE

The most popular new vehicle in each state AP *


3 March 2015

Monday, March 2nd, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Shale

ECB – Portugal may be the big winner of bond-buying
Steel – Chinese shares outdazzle rivals, but Russians not far behind
Insurance – US: Health Law Turns Obama and Insurers Into Allies


MAJOR DATA POINTS

Canada – Q4: GDP Growth Exceeds Forecasts; +2.4% from +3.2% / B / FP / G&M / CBC


MARKETS



ECONOMICS

EU – Greece Not Such a Drag for Eurozone WSJ *

EU – Companies boosted by fall in oil price and euro FT * *

EU – Deflation Threat Grows WSJ *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Greece – Faces Cash Crunch as IMF Payments Come Due WSJ / WSJ / R *

Greece – In talks for third bailout of up to €50b, Spain says FT

Greece – Only More Drama Will Avoid the Drachma WSJ *

Greece – Doubts Shadow Deal to Extend Bailout WSJ / FT / FT *

Greece – Struggles to Get Citizens to Pay Their Taxes WSJ *

Greece – Bailout timeline / b *


MONETARY POLICY

ECB – Braces for QE as others shift rates FT / R * *

ECB – Braces for QE as others shift rates R

ECB – Faces Struggle in Sourcing Enough Bonds for QE WSJ *

ECB – Portugal may be the big winner of bond-buying R *

ECB – The central bank minutes guessing game FT / FT *


FINANCE

EU – The right balance of banking regulation is still a way off FT / b / b * *

EU – Banks’ Reciprocity Draws Scrutiny WSJ *

EU – US Units of Deutsche Bank, Santander Expected to Fail Stress Test WSJ / WSJ


REAL ESTATE



SERVICES



MANUFACTURING



TECH



TRADE & TRANSPORTATION



COMMODITIES

Steel – Chinese shares outdazzle rivals, but Russians not far behind R *

Copper – Hits highest level since China fund attack FT

Gold – India’s Failure to Cut Import Duty Hurts Prices WSJ *

Platinum – Car sale catalyst fails to drive up metal FT * *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Shale – US: BHP highlights shale productivity gains FT

Shale – US: Largest group sees growth halt FT

Shale – US: Reasons to doubt rebound FT

Shale – US: Producers get no relief from rising Brent r *

Shale – US: Texas town built on boom fears the worst FT * *

Shale – US: Yearnings to tap gas threaten to split NY in two E *

Shale – Australia: Fracking in Northern Territory, Tasmania extends ban ABC

Shale – UK: Half open for fracking / q *

Shale – Romania: Chevron to Give Up Interests WSJ

Shale – Poland: Chevron to Abandon Venture NYT

Shale – Algeria: Project Encounters Determined Foes Deep in Sahara NYT


LABOR & EDUCATION

EU – UK Migration Surges, Stoking Debate Over EU Membership WSJ / FT * * *


HEALTH

Insurance – US: What the Supreme Court Challenge Means WSJ *

Insurance – US: More Cost of Health Care Shifts to Consumers WSJ / AP *

Insurance – US: Health Law Turns Obama and Insurers Into Allies NYT

Insurance – US: Medicaid Enrollees Strain the System WSJ * *


ENDNOTE

Countries with a GDP smaller than London reddit *


2 March 2015

Monday, March 2nd, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Oil

China – A Retro Push Against Women
Mobiles – Industry tiptoes towards 5G
Ship – Baltic Dry Index rebounds


MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Feb: HSBC PMI at seven-month high; 50.7 from 49.7 / R / WSJ / AP *

China – Feb: Official Manufacturing PMI Edges Up; 49.9 from 49.8 / WSJ / AP / B *

EZ – Feb: Consumer Prices Fall Again; -0.3% from -0.6% / WSJ / R / NYT / AFP / AP *

US – Feb: Consumer Spending Falls; -0.2% from -0.3% / R / WSJ / AP / B *

US – Feb: ISM manufacturing growth slows to 13-month low; 52.9 from 53.5 / R / B / CR *


MARKETS

Stocks – Where have the good times gone? FT * * * *

Stocks – US small-cap return to favor FT * *

Stocks – China no longer a bargain FT *


ECONOMICS

China – Investors grapple with corruption risks FT * *

China – Pressure Builds to Weaken the Yuan WSJ / NYT *

China – A Retro Push Against Women NYT

China – Online operators leap in brand ranking N *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

China – Risk of fiscal cliff grows N

China – Expands Island Construction in Disputed South China Sea WSJ *

China – In naval co-operation vow with Russia FT *


MONETARY POLICY

PBOC – China cuts benchmark interest rate FT / WSJ / NYT / AP / B / WSJ / WSJ *


REAL ESTATE

China – New-Home Prices Swing to Decline WSJ


FINANCE

Mobile Payments – Samsung Looks to Outsmart Apple, Google WSJ


SERVICES



MANUFACTURING



TECH

Mobiles – Samsung Unveils S6 to Answer iPhone 6 WSJ / FT / R / B *

Mobiles – Smartphones search to inspire after devices hit upgrade impasse FT * * * *

Mobiles – Industry tiptoes towards 5G R

Mobiles – The truly personal computer E * *

Mobiles – Never gonna put you down / e *

Mobiles – The Xiaomi shock E *

Mobiles – Chinese Internet Giants Get Into the Game WSJ

Mobiles – Smartphone Duopoly Pushes Competition to the Fringes statista *


TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Ports Get Creative as Cargo Piles Up WSJ

Ship – Maersk warns of slowdown in global trade FT

Ship – Baltic Dry Index rebounds / t *


COMMODITIES



ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Set for biggest monthly rise in 6 years FT / WSJ / B *

Oil – Prices Slide After Solid February WSJ / B

Oil – Rig idling near 20-year high, say drillers FT / FT * * *

Oil – Big Swings Are the New Normal WSJ *

Oil – Storage Sinks as Price Bobs WSJ

Oil – As Cushing fills, traders eye Houston R *

Oil – Rig Cuts Will Be Slow To Curb Shale IBD *

Oil – Canadian crude proves perfect partner to US shale r *

Oil – British fuel imports spike as refineries close R *

Oil – UK industry fears a fatal North Sea blow FT * *

Oil – Forecasting China’s Buying Grows Harder WSJ *


LABOR & EDUCATION

China – Union boss warns of ‘foreign forces’ in labor movement FT


HEALTH



ENDNOTE

Meet the man who could own Aviva France ft * *