Archive for April, 2015

17 April 2015

Thursday, April 16th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Oil

Fed – Chance of June Rate Rise Lessens
US – ‘The Drought’s Latest Victim Is the Housing Market’
Iron – Australia’s Angst Adds to RBA Easing Pressure


MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Mar: Inflation confirmed; -0.1% from -0.3% / eu *

US – Mar: Consumer prices lifted by gasoline, shelter; +0.2% from +0.2% / WSJ / R / B / AP *

US – Mar: ConfBd gauge of economy rises; +0.2% from +0.1% / AP

US – Apr: UMich consumer sentiment up; 95.9 from 93.0 / R *


MARKETS

Currencies – Loonie: Bearish Bets Batter Canadian Dollar WSJ * *

Currencies – Aussie: Trails the field FT *


ECONOMICS



POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Greece – Europe Braces for Brinkmanship WSJ / FT / FT *

Greece – Payback time / e * * *


MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Chance of June Rate Rise Lessens WSJ / R *

Fed – Beige Book: Economy Powers Through Headwinds WSJ / FT / AP

Fed – Faces its trickiest rate cycle yet FT * *

Fed – Official at odds with IMF rates warning FT

Fed – Expected to Shift on Muni Bonds WSJ *

Fed – Taper tantrums could end in tears for bondholders FT *


FINANCE



REAL ESTATE

World – Property bubble fears mount as prices and yields spike FT * *

US – Sluggish Housing Starts Belie Builders’ Confidence WSJ

US – Racing to Buy Homes Sight Unseen WSJ *

US – ‘The Drought’s Latest Victim Is the Housing Market’ B * *

US – After Foreclosures, Home Buyers Are Back WSJ * *

US – NMHC Apartment Market Conditions Tighter / cr *


LABOR & EDUCATION



SERVICES

Sneakers – Makers Train Their Eyes on Fashion WSJ *

Sneakers – Nike, Foot Locker Ride Crest Of Basketball Wave IBD

Sneakers – How Adidas Aims to Get Its Cool Back WSJ / FT / WSJ / bi * * *


MANUFACTURING



TECH



TRADE & TRANSPORTATION



COMMODITIES

Iron – Producers face S&P downgrade ABC

Iron – Australia’s Angst Adds to RBA Easing Pressure B / ABC *

Iron – Australia steeled for China slowdown FT * *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Demand seen lagging boom era growth FT *

Oil – Winners and Losers / B *

Oil – Low Prices Cool Boom in US Production WSJ

Oil – Prices Fall as Supply Glut Concerns Persist WSJ

Oil – Opec boosts output during March FT / B

Oil – Saudi Arabia Maneuvers to Retain Crown WSJ *

Oil – IEA: Market Recovery Could be Delayed WSJ / FT

Oil – IEA: No Immediate Market Impact After Iran Deal WSJ / r *

Oil – US refineries start to absorb surplus crude stocks: Kemp r * *

Oil – New US Offshore Drilling Rules WSJ / NYT

Oil – OPEC Sees US Boom to End in 2015 WSJ *

Oil – ‘US Boom Could End in May After Price Collapse’ B / B / B

Oil – US Output to soar till 2020 despite price rout: EIA R

Oil – Mapping the US boom FT * * * * * * *

Oil – Fall in prices has not curbed fracking nearly as much as expected E *

Oil – Rig Counts Could Fall Farther B *

Oil – ND output stays high even as rigs go idle R *


HEALTH



ENDNOTE

NYC 19th Century ‘Stench Map’ atlantic *


16 April 2015

Wednesday, April 15th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: China



MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Mar: Housing starts underperform; +2% not +14% / R / WSJ / B / AP *

US – Week: Jobless Claims Rise; +12k to 294k / WSJ / B / cr *


MARKETS

Stocks – HK: Becomes world’s largest exchanges operator FT *

Stocks – HK: Equity advance creates new corporate giants FT / B *

Stocks – HK: Buyers Shun Blue Chips WSJ *

Stocks – China: Overshadowed Shenzhen Market Surges WSJ * *

Stocks – China: Disappointment inevitable for those buying into froth FT *

Currencies – Momentum Builds to Label Yuan a Reserve Currency WSJ

Currencies – HK in no rush to switch dollar peg FT *


ECONOMICS

China – Lower growth as property and manufacturing drag FT / NYT * * *

China – Faltering Growth Forces Reliance on Traditional Tools WSJ *

China – One silver lining was strength in services WSJ *

China – Soft or hard landing? E * * *

China – Economy to grow 6.8% in 2015: IMF AFP / FT *

China – Trade Plunge Won’t Reach Great Depths WSJ *

China – Interior cities still growing wapo *

China – Banks on a glut-busting “Silk Road” N *

China – Has lent billions to spread influence but defaults loom FT

China – Are Foreign Exchange Reserves Really Falling? cfr *

China – ‘Explains collapse in global inflation rates’ bv * *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

China – Beijing influence over AIIB a concern ahead of founders’ meeting R *

China – AIIB to Focus on Big-Ticket Projects, Indonesia Says WSJ / CD *

China – Projections of power FT * *

China – Collectors get aggressive as governments seek revenue N *


MONETARY POLICY

PBOC – Reserves Decline by Record on Intervention, Euro’s Slide B *


FINANCE

China – Finally Gets Cheaper Credit WSJ *

China – Banks: a national service FT *

China – Commercial lenders expand investment banking operations FT *

China – Small Businesses Lose Out on Cheaper Loans WSJ *

China – Smartphones replacing wallets N *


REAL ESTATE

China – Boston Project Draws Insurance Firms’ First US Investments WSJ *

HK – Builder shortage hits prices and delays key projects FT *


LABOR & EDUCATION

China – Aims to Soothe Labor Unrest WSJ *

China – May Have the Most Factory Robots in the World by 2017 wsj *


SERVICES

China – Escalates Hollywood Partnerships, Aiming to Compete One Day NYT

China – Asia’s box office for movies is now bigger than America’s q *


MANUFACTURING



TECH



TRADE & TRANSPORTATION



COMMODITIES

Metals – China regulation is key to copper pricing FT / WSJ *

Metals – Chinese hedge funds boost influence N *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT



HEALTH



ENDNOTE

94% of Chinese live east of the Heihe-Tengchong line motw *


15 April 2015

Tuesday, April 14th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Japan

World – IMF warns of ‘super taper tantrum’ ahead
Water – Almond backlash tied to California drought
Nuclear – UK: Home-grown small reactors on agenda


MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Q1: Economic growth slows; +7.0% from +7.3% / R / FT / AP / WSJ / NYT / X *

US – Mar: Industrial production fell; -0.6% from +0.1% / R / WSJ / AP / cr *

US – Apr: NAHB Homebuilder Sentiment Rose for First Time in Five Months; 56 from 52 / B / WSJ / R / cr *


MARKETS

Bonds – Challenging times await US junk after banner run FT * *

Bonds – Buying Treasurys With Foreign Currencies Pays Off WSJ / FT *

Bonds – European Markets Go Down the Rabbit Hole WSJ *

Bonds – Investors Hunt Bargains in European Corporates WSJ *


ECONOMICS

World – IMF warns of ‘super taper tantrum’ ahead FT

World – Slowing EM Growth Is Sapping Economic Prospects WSJ *

World – ‘Deflation: A look at the historical record’ voxeu *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Japan – Abe bids to end economic burden FT * ** * *

Japan – Reforms push companies to unlock cash FT

Japan – Dramatic push to save economy G&M *

Japan – The economy gets a boost from record numbers of visitors E *


MONETARY POLICY

BOJ – Votes Down Call to Slash Easing WSJ / FT / B / b *

BOJ – Growing Speculation Easing May Outlast Kuroda’s Tenure wsj

BOJ – Economists Give Kuroda Higher Grades Than Abe WSJ *

BOJ – Government increasingly at odds with the central bank E *


FINANCE

Japan – Regional banks feel impact of BoJ stimulus FT


REAL ESTATE

Japan – Foreign investors snap up property on weak yen N *


LABOR & EDUCATION

Japan – Says sayonara to long hours working culture FT *


SERVICES

Telecoms – Nokia Is in Talks to Buy Alcatel-Lucent WSJ / FT / NYT / R / FT *

Telecoms – Nokia confirms Alcatel-Lucent acquisition FT / WSJ *

Telecoms – ‘Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent should heed the lesson of past mergers’ FT * *

Telecoms – US broadband providers wake up to the need for speed FT


MANUFACTURING



TECH

Google – Expected to Face Antitrust Charges in Europe NYT / WSJ / FT / WSJ *

Google – France set to push to reveal ‘secret sauce’ algorithm FT

Google – Music groups claim YouTube ‘abuses’ copyright law FT


TRADE & TRANSPORTATION



COMMODITIES

Water – Almond backlash tied to California drought CBC

Water – ‘California’s Farm-Water Scapegoat’ wsj *

Water – Mapping exceptional drought conditions / r *

Water – Mighty Rio Grande Now a Trickle Under Siege NYT


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Nuclear – Japan: Court blocks restart of two reactors FT / WSJ / NYT / N

Nuclear – Japan: Considers evaporation, storage of Fukushima water R * * *

Nuclear – UK: Home-grown small reactors on agenda FT *


HEALTH



ENDNOTE

A new technology to prevent yogurt from sticking to the lid medium * *


14 April 2015

Monday, April 13th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Alternative Energy

EU – Greece: Poor are back to where they were in 1980
ECB – Data Suggest Stimulus Measures Are Already Bearing Fruit
Copper – New reckoning for miners running in the red


MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Mar: Retail sales weaker than economists expected; +0.9% not +1.1% / WSJ / R / AP / B *

US – Mar: More expensive gas lifts wholesale prices; +0.2%, -0.8% yr / WSJ / AP / B *

US – Feb: Businesses boosted stockpiles; +0.3% from flat / AP *

US – Mar: NFIB small business confidence falls; 95.2 from 98.0 / R *


MARKETS

Stocks – US companies unleash share buyback binge FT *

Stocks – Fed official warns ‘flash crash’ could be repeated FT

Stocks – Virtu IPO aims to present friendly side of high-frequency trading FT * *


ECONOMICS

EU – Italy: Eases austerity as economy picks up FT

EU – Italy: Investment climate starts to warm FT / WSJ * *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

EU – Greece: Short-term bond yields rise sharply FT *

EU – Greece: Prepares for debt default if talks with creditors fail FT

EU – Greece: Poor are back to where they were in 1980 wapo *


MONETARY POLICY

ECB – Data Suggest Stimulus Measures Are Already Bearing Fruit WSJ / WSJ / WSJ / B *


FINANCE

EU – In Odd Twist, Banks Owe Borrowers WSJ *

EU – European and US bank jobs r *


REAL ESTATE

EU – Property Investors Flock to Warehouses WSJ *

EU – UK: Super-rich shun London over non-dom plans FT / FT

EU – UK: Greystar to Buy Student-Housing Portfolio WSJ *


LABOR & EDUCATION

EU – Germany’s Rising Wages Bode Well for Global Economy WSJ *

EU – Huge Gulf In Labour Costs statista *

EU – Record Tide of Refugees Expected to Strain System WSJ / FT / WSJ / AP *


SERVICES



MANUFACTURING



TECH

Chips – Activist shareholder puts pressure on Qualcomm WSJ / WSJ / WSJ / FT / NYT / B * * *

Chips – The PC Box Closes In on Intel WSJ *

Chip – Gear Makers Look Less Fab WSJ *


TRADE & TRANSPORTATION



COMMODITIES

Copper – Market divided as industry gathers in Chile FT *

Copper – New reckoning for miners running in the red R *

Copper – Chile mines turn to the Pacific for water R / r
Top producing countries; Million tonnes, 2014 *
Distribution of copper deposits *
Estimates of copper deposits; Million tonnes, 2013 *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Alt – World: Plummeting prices are boosting renewables E *

Alt – World: Gets 22% of Electricity From Renewable Energy wsj / gp * * * *

Alt – Germany: Renewables take top spot FT / G&M * *

Alt – Germany: Expensive Gamble on Renewable Energy WSJ / FT * * * *

Alt – US: Yieldcos Turn Wind, Solar Energy Into Income Vehicles IBD

Alt – US: Solar and wind start to outshine gas NYT / FT

Alt – Japan: ‘Still not seeing the renewable light’ N / AP *

Alt – Australia: Green energy outcry as Abbott unpicks policy FT * * *

Alt – Storage: The $5b Race to Build a Better Battery B *

Alt – Storage: Energy for a Rainy Day, or a Windless One NYT

Alt – Storage: Company to store energy in balloons under Lake Ontario FP *

Alt – Storage: Using Molten Aluminum Lakes BW *


HEALTH



ENDNOTE

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


13 April 2015

Sunday, April 12th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: LatAm

Air – New Gulf War Tests US-EU Airline Tie-Ups, Fares
Mobiles – The Predicted Wearables Boom Is All About The Wrist
Alt – Hydro: China blocks $4b Xiaonanhai dam development


MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Mar: Exports in surprise fall; -14.6% from +48.3% / AP / R / WSJ / FT / AFP / b *


MARKETS

Bonds – German 10-year yields heading below zero FT *

Bonds – Asia’s Junk Market Heats Up WSJ *


ECONOMICS

World – Recovery at risk of stalling FT *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

LatAm – ‘Despite scandal, the region is making progress’ E *

LatAm – ‘The Pacific Alliance in search of a shared product’ E *

Cuba – Americas Summit Puts Focus on US Thaw WSJ / FT *

Cuba – Obama, Castro in Historic Meeting WSJ / B / NYT *

Mexico – Economic gloom hard to crack FT * * *

Argentina – In last-ditch manoeuvre to pay bondholders FT

Brazil – Corruption Scandal Spreads Beyond Petrobras WSJ

Brazil – Poll blow to Rousseff over austerity plan FT / B

Brazil – Rousseff’s Problems in Three Charts B * * *

Brazil – At breaking point FT / AFP *

Brazil – Economic downturn prodding Rousseff to look to US WSJ *

Brazil – To Fix Water Crisis, Brasilia Turns to Big Projects WSJ *


MONETARY POLICY



FINANCE



REAL ESTATE

World – Investors should follow population trends FT *


LABOR & EDUCATION



SERVICES



MANUFACTURING



TECH

Mobiles – Muted Debut for Apple Watch With Sparse Crowds in Europe and Asia B

Mobiles – Apple sparks gold rush as pre-orders of luxury Watches sell out FT * * *

Mobiles – The Predicted Wearables Boom Is All About The Wrist / statista *


TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Air – New Gulf War Tests US-EU Airline Tie-Ups, Fares IBD *

Air – Lufthansa’s grim struggle in crash aftermath FT *


COMMODITIES

Iron – India’s Push to Resume Mining Stymied WSJ *

Iron – Sinking price hits smaller producers FT

Iron – Australia Braces for Lower Prices WSJ

Iron – Sweden moves a town for a mine R *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Alt – Hydro: China blocks $4b Xiaonanhai dam development FT / NYT *

Alt – Hydro: Bad politics should no longer slow Nepal E *

Alt – Wave: Private investment dries up for UK projects FT * *

Alt – Wave: A new Australia project may make swell power a reality E *

Alt – Ocean: Currents, tides rise as new renewable energy candidates N * *


HEALTH

Pharma – Market sanguine on biosimilars, but may be wrong FT *

Pharma – Stakes of Drug-Price Battles Are Getting Higher WSJ *

Pharma – Makers of Generic Drugs Challenge FDA Plan for Updated Warnings NYT

Pharma – Insulin: Lucrative market is about to change FT *


ENDNOTE

The Accidental Beauty of Flight Paths bp * * *


10 April 2015

Thursday, April 9th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Russia

US – Wholesalers Face an Inventory Glut
Ship – A New Boom From Oil
Nickel – Higher Russian output, China stocks cause market meltdown
H5N2 – Brought by Wild Neighbors, a Deadly Flu Attacks Turkey Flocks


MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Mar: CPI steady; 1.4% from 1.4% / FT / WSJ / R / AFP / X *

China – Mar: PPI slides less; -4.6% from -4.8% / X *


MARKETS

Stocks – China equities: Stock market fever FT *

Stocks – Buying Frenzy Sweeps Into Hong Kong WSJ / FT * *

Stocks – China rally leaves foreign investors conflicted FT * *

Stocks – Nikkei Breaks Above 20000 for First Time in 15 Years WSJ *

Stocks – Set New Record in Europe WSJ / WSJ *


ECONOMICS

US – Wholesalers Face an Inventory Glut B * *

US – No Easy Way Out for Import Prices WSJ *

US – ‘Unless wages grow, America’s economic blip could become a trend’ E * *

US – High Number of Zero-Savers / bp *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Russia – Protests bubble up in sign of public discontent FT

Russia – Consumers Reflect the Pinch of Economic Sanctions NYT

Russia – Car Sales Have Collapsed B *

Russia – Ruble at Strongest Level Since December WSJ / FT *

Russia – Rents Fall as Moscow Confronts Flagging Economy WSJ

Russia – American farmer among the winners in sanctions regime AP

Russia – Hinterland emerges as microcosm of wider structural woes FT * * * *


MONETARY POLICY



FINANCE

US – ‘Post-Crisis Risk Casts a Darkening Shadow’ WSJ *


REAL ESTATE

US – Housing Market Sees Hopeful Signs of Spring WSJ *

US – After Foreclosures, Home Buyers Are Back WSJ * *

US – CoreLogic: House Prices up 5.6% cr *


LABOR & EDUCATION



SERVICES



MANUFACTURING



TECH



TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – China Seeks Dominance in Athens Harbor S

Ship – China Cosco to Order at Least 10 Triple-E Megaships WSJ

Ship – West Coast port congestion boosts demand for air cargo FP

Ship – A New Boom From Oil NYT *


COMMODITIES

Aluminum – China measures set to boost supply FT

Nickel – Higher Russian output, China stocks cause market meltdown N *

Tin – ‘Indonesian cartel flexes muscles; market yawns’ r *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – US production is probably peaking right now r *

Oil – The US Story in Charts / wsj * * * *

Oil – Shell’s Big Buy Is Blow to Oilfield Services WSJ *

Oil – Middle East state spending throws lifeline to oilfield services R *

Oil – Nuclear deal means more Iran output – just not this year R *

Oil – Iran’s Strategic Petroleum Reversal WSJ *

Oil – Libya’s War Rages but Eni Keeps Pumping WSJ *

Oil – As negotiations fail, one side tries to grab the revenue N *

Oil – Asia’s Giants Unlikely to Wade Into Merger Game Anytime Soon WSJ * *


HEALTH

H5N2 – Brought by Wild Neighbors, a Deadly Flu Attacks Turkey Flocks NYT / AP / AP / AP / AP


ENDNOTE

Russian Expansion 1300-1914 reddit *


9 April 2015

Wednesday, April 8th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: India

Pipeline – TransCanada delays Energy East
Crops – US farmers take a gamble with belt-tightening
Ebola – 2 New Vaccines Pass Important Early Test


MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Week: Jobless Claims Remain Low; +14k to 281k / WSJ / R / AP / B / b *


MARKETS

Bonds – A Pair of Milestones for Euro Debt WSJ * *

Bonds – European govies more expensive / b *

Bonds – Going Long in Treasurys Wins WSJ * *


ECONOMICS

India – Reformist Modi tries to shake off ‘anti-poor’ label FT * *

India – Venture Money Floods Into Startups WSJ *

India – Foreign insurers scramble for foothold FT * *

India – Millionaires Have Been Leaving the Country in Droves wsj *

India – “Fragile 5” now the “Fragile 4”? / t *


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

India – Modi Looks to Deliver on Budget Promises WSJ / WSJ / WSJ / FT

India – Finance Minister Preaches Patience on Economic Reforms WSJ *

India – Tackles Messy Web of Sales Taxes WSJ *


MONETARY POLICY

RBI – Leaves Key Lending Rate Unchanged WSJ / FT / R / B

RBI – Fear of Fed gives way to rate cuts / r *

ECB – Stimulus effort meets 1st month goal AP / FT / B

Fed – Divided on June Rate Increase WSJ / FT / NYT / R / AP / B / WSJ *

Fed – Mulls selling bonds to potentially trim repo use R / r *
March 2015 *
Median forecasts by year *


FINANCE

India – Push for Banks for All Leaves Some Still Outside WSJ *

India – Bid to Liberate Poor From Illicit Moneylenders WSJ *

India – Narendra Modi takes tough stance on ‘black money’ FT *


REAL ESTATE

India – A High-Rise Race in Mumbai WSJ *


LABOR & EDUCATION



SERVICES



MANUFACTURING



TECH

Mobiles – Apple Watch Review: Bliss, but Only After a Steep Learning Curve NYT / WSJ / B / R / WSJ

Mobiles – Samsung Galaxy S6 Review: The iPhone 6 Has Met Its Match WSJ / NYT *

Mobiles – Apple climbs after $1t valuation call FT *

Mobiles – Motorola Has a Hit—in Brazil WSJ


TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline – China to Build Project From Iran to Pakistan WSJ *

Pipeline – TransCanada delays Energy East G&M *

Pipeline – Northeast, despite highest gas costs, resists more projects AP


COMMODITIES

Crops – US farmers take a gamble with belt-tightening R *

Crops – Pesticides Linked to Honeybee Deaths Pose More Risks NYT

Crops – Kraft wheat case poses test for commercial traders FT *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

NatGas – Shell to Buy LNG Player BG Group WSJ / FT / NYT / FT * * * * *

NatGas – LNG ‘Asian premium’ vanishes N * *


HEALTH

Ebola – 2 New Vaccines Pass Important Early Test NYT

Ebola – UN envoy upbeat on progress FT *

Ebola – Timeline of a ruthless killer / afp *


ENDNOTE

The cost of room service in 15 cities wapo *


8 April 2015

Tuesday, April 7th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Mining

EMs – Entering an age of diminished expectations
Cigs – Giant faces tough competition in EMs
Coal – Modi looks to double production by 2020


MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Feb: Retail Sales Fall After Four Monthly Rises; -0.2%, +3.0% yr / WSJ / eu *

Germany – Feb: Factory orders slip again; -0.9% from -2.6% / AFP *


MARKETS



ECONOMICS

World – IMF warns of long period of lower growth FT *

World – Slowdown causes concern ft *

EMs – The great unravelling FT * * *

EMs – Entering an age of diminished expectations e *

EMs – Banks face tough challenge as growth slows FT


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Greece – Spectre of Grexit back as cash runs out FT / FT *

Greece – Risks Slipping Back Into Recession, Say Analysts WSJ *

Greece – Frustrated officials want premier to ditch Syriza far left FT


MONETARY POLICY



FINANCE



REAL ESTATE



LABOR & EDUCATION



SERVICES

E-Cigs – Ad Campaign to Challenge Value in Quitting Smoking WSJ

E-Cigs – Big Tobacco is concerned for your health R

E-Cigs – Design Evolution / r *

Cigs – Investors Shrug Off Europe’s Regulatory Moves WSJ *

Cigs – Giant faces tough competition in EMs N *


MANUFACTURING



TECH



TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Delivery – FedEx to buy TNT Express for €4.4b FT / WSJ / NYT *


COMMODITIES

Mining – China’s steel consumption may soon start falling E *

Mining – Chinese government set to join the iron ore price war? r *

Mining – Iron Meltdown Raises Questions About Miners WSJ / FT / WSJ / b * *

Mining – Gold Bust Means Less Mine Spending B / WSJ

Mining – Barrick chairman aims to put shine back in gold miner FT * *

Mining – Metal Prices Aid Glencore’s Chances With Rio Tinto WSJ *

Mining – No big new diamond finds in the past 15 years FT *

Mining – Looks on Steadier Ground Than Big Oil WSJ *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Coal – Rio Tinto cuts Japan prices FT

Coal – Japan’s annual benchmark influence on the wane FT * *

Coal – A Fight in Australia Pits With Coral B *

Coal – Modi looks to double production by 2020 N

Coal – India at the coalface FT * * * * * *


HEALTH

Biotech – Big pharma turns to small firms for edge in cancer treatment FT * * *

Biotech – High price of gene therapy drug adds to costs debate FT *

Biotech – Europe seeks to emulate US investment boom FT / B

Biotech – European Dream in US WSJ *


ENDNOTE

The most popular spots to film movies in NYC wapo *


7 April 2015

Tuesday, April 7th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: Iran

World – Land has returned as a constraint on growth
Rail – US Board Seeks Stiffer Standards for Oil Tank Cars
Aluminum – The decline and fall of South American production


MAJOR DATA POINTS

EU – Mar: Producer price fall slows more than expected; +0.5%, -2.8% yr / R *

US – Feb: JOLTS job openings at 14-year high; +168K to 5.1m R *


MARKETS

Bonds – Corporate debt rally puts equities in shade FT * *

Bonds – Investors Scoop Up Companies’ Debt WSJ *


ECONOMICS



POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Iran – Deal primes market for rising exports FT * * *

Iran – Deal May Be Slow to Affect Oil Sector NYT / R / WSJ / E * *

Iran – Has a little surprise for oil markets that’s ready to ship B *

Iran – US, EU positioning N *

Iran – Deal Prospects Stir Hopes of Consumers, Importers WSJ / B / WSJ * *

Iran – Private Businesses Hope for Relief From Easing Sanctions WSJ *

Iran – Nuclear Deal Could Drive Foreign Investors to Stocks WSJ / WSJ *

Iran – Economic pressure grows on president as nuclear deal nears FT * *


MONETARY POLICY



FINANCE



REAL ESTATE

World – Land has returned as a constraint on growth E * * *

World – Tech innovators aim to shake up property industry FT

World – Silicon Valley Firms Plant Roots in Farm Belt WSJ *


LABOR & EDUCATION



SERVICES

Music – Pandora: going for a song FT *

Music – Scrutinizing the Streaming Model WSJ *


MANUFACTURING



TECH

EU – Regulators scrutinise Apple over music streaming plans FT / WSJ

EU – Lays Groundwork for Antitrust Charges Against Google WSJ / FT

EU – Steps Up Pressure on Tech Giants WSJ / NYT *


TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Rail – Oil Shipments Take Slow Track WSJ *

Rail – US Board Seeks Stiffer Standards for Oil Tank Cars NYT

Rail – New rules take effect for ND oil shipments AP

Rail – Where the oil trains go / bi * *

Rail – Stock Ratio with Air Seen Lifting Off B *


COMMODITIES

Copper – Supply Problems Buff Away Some Tarnish WSJ * *

Aluminum – The decline and fall of South American production r * *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Surges on Signs of Growing Demand WSJ / WSJ

Oil – Companies are poised to post ‘ugly’ quarterly results WSJ / IBD *

Oil – Saudi strategy to retain dominance FT * *

Oil – Libya’s Biggest Port May Reopen B / NYT / motw *

Oil – Cheap crude, corruption charges hit China’s majors N *

Oil – Price Drop Offers Petro-States Chance to Curb Domestic Demand WSJ *


HEALTH



ENDNOTE

How genre affects musician life expectancy conv * *


6 April 2015

Sunday, April 5th, 2015



Today’s Issue Cluster: US Labor & Economy

Fed – The Inflation Cycle May Have Turned
US – Americans are returning to the far-flung suburbs
Cotton – The other globally glutted commodity


MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Mar: ISM Nonmanufacturing Below Expectations; 56.5 from 56.9 / WSJ / R / AP

US – Mar: Markit services highest since August; 59.2 from 57.1 / R *


MARKETS



ECONOMICS

US – Falling Treasury Yields Raise Flags About Economy WSJ *

US – How serious is the slowdown? ft *

US – Consumers Should Emerge From Hibernation WSJ *

US – Americans Are Saving More, But for How Much Longer? wsj / B * * *

US – Coincident Indexes increased in 46 states / cr *

US – Companies Bring More Foreign Profit Home WSJ *

US – More Regulations Mean More Business For Outsourcers IBD


POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY



MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Wary over US jobs but will wait to study trend FT / WSJ / FT *

Fed – The Inflation Cycle May Have Turned wsj *

Fed – Rate Rise Must Come to Terms With Investors WSJ *


FINANCE

US – Banks Are Poised to Profit From Forex Tumult WSJ *

US – Banks target Elizabeth Warren’s ‘rogue’ watchdog FT *

US – Banks Shift Bond Portfolios WSJ *

US – Banks Keep Loans Close to Home WSJ *

US – Regional Banks Fill Industrial Niche WSJ * *

US – New Bank Formation Weakest in 50 Years wsj * *


REAL ESTATE

US – Home-Price Growth Moderates WSJ / b * *

US – Home Prices Are Surging 13 Times Faster Than Wages B * *

US – Cities where houses are underwater / wapo * *

US – Housing Waits–and Waits–on Millennials wsj *

US – Americans are returning to the far-flung suburbs wapo * *

US – Vacation home market heating up WSJ * *

US – Reis Office Vacancy Rate declined in Q1 / cr *

US – AIA Architecture Billings Increases Slightly / cr *


LABOR & EDUCATION

US – Companies cut back sharply on hiring FT / R * *

US – Slowing Job Growth Tests Economy WSJ / NYT / AP / B *

US – ‘A Wake-Up Call About the Impact of the Strong Dollar’ b * *

US – The March Jobs Report in Charts / wsj * * *

US – Wage Growth Remains Largely in Check WSJ / b *

US – Low Continuing Claims May Not Be Good WSJ *

US – McDonald’s Joins Trend in Raising Pay WSJ / FT / B *

US – State Minimum Wage Map / bp *

US – Car-Making Boom? Not for Auto-Industry Workers WSJ *

US – The changing geography of employment ft * *


SERVICES



MANUFACTURING

F&B – Rising Demand Sweetens Sugar Prices WSJ

F&B – Health drive whets drink industry’s thirst for sugar alternative FT * *


TECH



TRADE & TRANSPORTATION



COMMODITIES

Cotton – With polyester, serves as a microcosm for globalization r *

Cotton – The other globally glutted commodity q * * * *


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT



HEALTH



ENDNOTE

The most popular MLB team in every county bi *