Bz Nwz




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Today’s Issue Cluster: UK Real Estate

Ireland – Rovers are tempted to return home
Russia – Putin Gets Tough Grades for Managing Russia’s Economy
EU – Banks left behind



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Week: Jobless claims rise sharply during holidays; +20k to 287k / R / B



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MARKETS

Currencies – Euro’s Path Is Now in Fed’s Hands WSJ / WSJ *



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ECONOMICS

EU – Economists warn of threat from higher US rates FT * *

EU – GDP Growth forecast 2015 eu *

Ireland – Rovers are tempted to return home FT * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Russia – Rouble slides amid fears for economy FT * *

Russia – Putin Gets Tough Grades for Managing Russia’s Economy B *

Ukraine – Still hoping for change FT * *



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MONETARY POLICY

ECB – Draghi committed to further stimulus if needed FT *

ECB – Economists sceptical of more asset purchases in 2016 FT * *



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FINANCE

EU – Banks left behind FT



---

REAL ESTATE

UK – House price growth gathers pace in October FT

UK – Home-Price Growth Slows to Five-Month Low in November B *

UK – London Faces Housing Bubble Risk, UBS Says B *

UK – Asian and Russian buyers desert prime London market WSJ / FT

UK – Record house prices spur Londoners to sell up and go FT *

UK – East of England fuels house prices as buyers look beyond London FT *

UK – House prices are in perma-boom FT / FT *

UK – Biggest housebuilders slow home construction FT *

UK – Thousands of London flats to come back on the market G

UK – Landlords attack conversion of London offices to homes FT

UK – Commercial property investment has peaked, says CBRE FT



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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline – Tusk joins Italian premier in attacking Berlin FT / WSJ / WSJ *



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COMMODITIES




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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




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HEALTH




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ENDNOTE

How tomb for architect’s wife inspired the red telephone box G *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Planes

Bonds – Fund failure exacerbates liquidity fears
Coffee – Rains Boost Brazil Supplies
Air – Tech giants spot opportunity in forecasting China’s smog



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

SK – Nov: Factory Output Unexpectedly Falls; -2.1%, -0.3% yr / B

US – Nov: NAR Pending Home Sales Disappoint; -0.9% from +0.4% / WSJ / AP / B / R



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MARKETS

Bonds – Signal Unease Over US Economy WSJ / FT * *

Bonds – Withdrawals hit US corporate funds FT * *

Bonds – Fund failure exacerbates liquidity fears FT * * *

Bonds – Buyers Readying Defenses for 2016 Leave Nothing to Chance B *



---

ECONOMICS

Asean – Launches Huge Trade Bloc WSJ *

Asean – Creation of economic community forges new era FT * * *

Asean – Yields Few Economic Bright Spots WSJ *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




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MONETARY POLICY




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FINANCE




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REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING

Planes – Let the good times roll FT / FT *

Planes – The Fate of 747 Is in Hands of Moscow Firm B *

Planes – Airbus and Boeing brace for sales slowdown FT * *

Planes – Airbus Delays Delivery of First A320neo WSJ

Planes – Boeing to Roll Out 737 Max Jetliner With Little Fanfare WSJ / B

Planes – As Boeing booms, robots rise and job growth lags R

Planes – Aerion Superfast Business Jet Moves Ahead WSJ *

Planes – Japan project developing new supersonic passenger jet N *

Planes – Mitsubishi Delays Delivery of Japan’s First Jetliner WSJ

Planes – China’s ‘Flying Phoenix’ Has Turbulent Path Ahead WSJ / R *

Planes – Chinese Aircraft-Leasing Firms Prepare for IPO Takeoff WSJ *



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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




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COMMODITIES

Cocoa – Chocolatiers seek a new global sweet spot FT / FT

Cocoa – ‘Remelting’ stirs debate over high-end chocolate FT *

Coffee – Rains Boost Brazil Supplies B * *

Coffee – Vietnamese exports set to push sales to record FT

Coffee – Artisan roasters price their own contracts FT * * *



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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Air – Beijing pollution soars but no red alert AFP

Air – Tech giants spot opportunity in forecasting China’s smog R



---

HEALTH

Pharma – The Market’s Latest Comeback Story: Biotech Stocks WSJ

Pharma – Biotech rout leaves sector ripe for stockpickers FT *

Pharma – US Venture Capital Acquires Appetite for EU Biotech WSJ *



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ENDNOTE

The World as seen from New York City (Pre-Steinberg) motw *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: China

China – ‘Data detail often soft-handed anti-corruption campaign’
China – Developers Build in America, but Look for Buyers at Home
China – Beijing orders SOEs to hire former soldiers



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Oct: Case-Shiller Home Price Growth Strengthened; +5.2% from +4.9% / WSJ / R / B

US – Dec: UMich Consumer Confidence Rises; 96.5 from 92.6 / WSJ



---

MARKETS

China – Stock Market Still a Draw After Tumultuous Year WSJ * *

China – Stock market outperforms S&P despite wild swings FT *



---

ECONOMICS

China – Leaders Flag More Stimulus After Top Economic Meeting B * *

China – Old economy focus ‘understates’ growth FT * * * *

China – Plan to Merge Sprawling Firms Risks Curbing Competition WSJ *

China – Loses Another Economic Indicator as Minxin Suspends PMI B

China – Where Economic Turbulence Could Start in 2016 B * * * * *

HK – Caught between US tightening and China slowdown FT

HK – Retailers Lost in Currency Translation WSJ *

HK – Fed Rate Increase to Cool Property Prices WSJ *

Mongolia – May be turning a corner E *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

China – US warns Europe over granting market economy status FT / FT

China – Country’s ‘Warren Buffett’ said to be ‘assisting authorities’ FT *

China – ‘Data detail often soft-handed anti-corruption campaign’ CER * *



---

MONETARY POLICY

PBOC – Optimistic on severity of China slowdown FT



---

FINANCE

China – Technology Taking Over Finance WSJ *

China – Apple Seeks to Launch Apple Pay by February WSJ



---

REAL ESTATE

China – Developers Look to Diversify WSJ *

China – Developers Build in America, but Look for Buyers at Home WSJ



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

China – Beijing orders SOEs to hire former soldiers FT *

China – Industrial employment falls to lowest level since 2000 FT * *

China – Workers Are Fighting Back as Economic Dream Fades WSJ *

China – Working age population to fall 10% by 2040 FT *

China – Workforce could yet rise, not fall FT * * * *

China – Delivers on Two-Child Birth Policy WSJ

China – Families Reluctant to Let Go of One-Child Model WSJ *



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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




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COMMODITIES




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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




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HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

A New Map of the Moon bm *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Metals

Canada – Gloom Deepens as GDP Unexpectedly Stalls
Retail – Stores Get Late Shopping Surge, Lifting Holiday Sales
Alt – Wind: Germany Pays to Halt Danish Power to Protect Own Output



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Nov: Factory output worse than expected; -1.0% not -0.6% / R / B / AFP

China – Nov: Industrial profits fall for sixth month; -1.4% / R

Vietnam – 2015: Economy grows at highest rate in five years; +6.68% / AFP



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MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Canada – Gloom Deepens as GDP Unexpectedly Stalls B *

Canada – Economy may be more feeble than it looks G&M *

Australia – Downgrades economic forecasts FT *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




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MONETARY POLICY




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FINANCE




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REAL ESTATE

Canada – House prices ratchet higher but Montreal steady CBC *

Canada – Liberals move to cool hot housing markets G&M * *



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LABOR & EDUCATION




---

SERVICES

Retail – Stores Get Late Shopping Surge, Lifting Holiday Sales B

Retail – Stores at risk of missing modest holiday sales goals R

Retail – Malls Reel as Web Roars WSJ

Retail – Generation Y is main force in China’s online shopping CD *

Retail – China Market Saturation / bm *



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MANUFACTURING




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TECH

Streaming – Why YouTube Is Twice as Valuable as Netflix Bn *

Streaming – Cable Bills Are Rising Again B *

Streaming – For Pandora, Ruling on Royalty Rates Is Crucial NYT



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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




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COMMODITIES

Metals – Hedge Fund Says China to Bring More Pain B / AFP * *

Molybdenum – This Year’s Worst Commodity B * *

Lithium – Tesla in stand-off over supply FT

Gold – China Central Bank Expands Reserves WSJ *

Aluminum – Rises as Chinese Producers Vow to Cut Production WSJ

Iron – China’s steel industry has own take on supply and demand ft *

Iron – Miners Shoveling Furiously Prop Up Aussie GDP B *

Iron – Industry eyes India lifeline FT * *

Gold – Won’t Take Gold in Metals Race WSJ *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Alt – Wind: Germany Pays to Halt Danish Power to Protect Own Output B *

Alt – Wind: ‘Largest US source of new electricity in 2014’ / awea *



---

HEALTH

Pharma – Generics revive Philippines industry FT *

Pharma – Employers Battle Drug Costs WSJ * *



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ENDNOTE

US States’ accuracy over 100 years of elections dr *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Mobiles

US – ‘Millennials Are Finally Leaving Their Parents’ Basements’
Ship – Quick retreat of East African pirates
El Niño – It’s already fading



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Brazil – 2015: Inflation rate double the government target; 10.8% / AFP

US – Week: Jobless claims near 42-year low; -5k to 267k / R / WSJ / B



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MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

US – Gas Windfall Fails to Stoke Consumers WSJ *

US – The New Digital Divide wsj * *

US – Coincident Indexes increased in 40 states / cr *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




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MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Yellen’s “tightening” promises a slow crawl higher R *

Fed – Seen raising again in March FT *



---

FINANCE

US – Big Winners as Fed Raises Rates: Foreign Banks WSJ *



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REAL ESTATE

US – ‘Millennials Are Finally Leaving Their Parents’ Basements’ B *

US – Fannie Mae Revival Hopes Are Withering on Capitol Hill WSJ *

US – AIA Billings Index Hits Bump / cr *



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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH

Mobiles – Apple supplier’s light forecast exacerbates iPhone jitters R

Mobiles – Apple Kremlinology: Why Operations Got a Promotion WSJ / WSJ *

Mobiles – Apple’s in-house chip design unit gives it smartphone edge FT

Mobiles – Have iPhone Sales Peaked in 2015? statista *

Mobiles – Analysts Predict iPhone Slump Ahead B / IBD *

Mobiles – Apple Claims 92% of Global Smartphone Profits statista *

Mobiles – Huawei Hopes to Connect With US Market WSJ *

Mobiles – Xiaomi launches new phone to counter Huawei FT

Mobiles – ZTE Cheap Phones Quietly Winning the US BW *

Mobiles – BlackBerry turnround plan gains traction FT *

Mobiles – Tablet Shipments Seen Falling 8% in 2015 WSJ

Mobiles – ‘Auto infotainment more valued than driving performance’ bi *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – US Ports See Imports Rebound WSJ / cd *

Ship – 2015 has been a tale of two sectors FT * *

Ship – Doldrums offer opportunities FT

Ship – Quick retreat of East African pirates q * *

Ship – A year after work starts, little sign of Nicaragua canal AFP *



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COMMODITIES

El Niño – It’s already fading R *

La Niña – Poised to Storm the Markets WSJ *



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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

HEALTH

Dengue – Spreads around the world AFP

Ebola – Survivors still suffer months after discharge AFP *

Zika – Spreading Virus Adds to Brazil’s Woes WSJ *

TB – Rare case shows diagnosing, treating children is tough AP *



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ENDNOTE

World’s Most Exclusive Addresses statista *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Shale

World – Prospects still slim for major pickup
Diamonds – De Beers Shuttering Canada Mine
Air – Companies in South China See Opportunity in Beijing’s Smog



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

UK – Q3: Economic Growth Weaker Than Expected; +0.4% was +0.5% / WSJ *

US – Nov: New home sales rise 4.3%, momentum slows; 505k from 470k / R / WSJ

US – Nov: Consumer Spending Rose; +0.3% from +0.4% / WSJ / B / AP / R

US – Nov: Capital Goods Orders Drop; -0.4% from +0.6% / B / AP / WSJ / R

US – Dec: UMich Sentiment Highest Since July; 92.6 from 91.3 / WSJ



---

MARKETS

World – Oil Bettors Seek Safety in Proxies WSJ *



---

ECONOMICS

World – Prospects still slim for major pickup R * *

World – Economy grew by 2.7% / E *

World – A Little More Inflation Would Be Good for Everyone B *

World – Poverty has fallen below 10% for the first time bi / A * *

World – Relative economic impacts of water insecurity / bm *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




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MONETARY POLICY




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FINANCE

World – Thousands more bank jobs under threat FT / FT *



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REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Delivery – USPS on Track to Gain Larger Share of Holiday Market WSJ *

Delivery – Amazon Seeks to Ease Ties With UPS WSJ *



---

COMMODITIES

Diamonds – Festive season will have to go well to brighten outlook FT *

Diamonds – De Beers Shuttering Canada Mine B *

Diamonds – Why It’s So Hard to Put a Price on the Biggest B *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Shale – USGS Doubles Barnett Reserves Estimate TT

Shale – Clues to future lie in Permian basin FT *

Shale – ‘Producers Drool Over West Texas Tiramisu’ B *

Shale – Biggest US gas field finally succumbs to downturn R *

Shale – Gas Driller Hits a Gusher—and Sinks Its Own Stock WSJ *

Shale – IEA: Opec Strategy Hurts Output But Doesn’t Lift Prices WSJ *

Shale – Low commodity prices have failed to gut US oil FT *

Shale – ‘OK Earthquakes Are a National Security Threat’ B / NYT *

Shale – Banks (So Far) Escape Bust BW *

Shale – EU gas exploration on ice as boom turns to bust FT

Shale – Dozens of companies awarded UK fracking licences FT / FT / R *

Shale – A Saudi fracking boom could be a tectonic shift G&M

Shale – China needs more than goals to tap gas n *

Sands – ‘Now a Weakness, Not Strength’ B *



---

HEALTH

Air – China Faces Balancing Act to Reduce Pollution WSJ *

Air – Companies in South China See Opportunity in Beijing’s Smog NYT / NYT * *

Air – New diesel car sales banned in Delhi as pollution war intensifies FT



---

ENDNOTE

76 Viral Images From 2015 That Were Totally Fake giz * * *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Cybersecurity

EMs – Economies downgraded across the board
Crops – Demand for craft beers sparks surge in US hop production
NatGas – Moves to hedge Australia LNG exposure



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Q3: Economic Growth Tepid; +2.0% was +2.0% / NYT / WSJ / R / AP / B

US – Nov: Sales of Existing Homes Slump 10.5%; 4.76m from 5.32m / B / R



---

MARKETS

EMs – Feeling Junk-Bond Pressures WSJ *

EMs – Record gap opens between cyclical and defensive stocks FT *



---

ECONOMICS

EMs – Economies downgraded across the board FT *

EMs – Fed rate rise a threat FT / FT



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY

EMs – US central bank policy and the spectre of 1998 FT * *



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FINANCE




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REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH

Cybersecurity – Iranian Hackers Infiltrated New York Dam in 2013 WSJ *

Cybersecurity – US power grid vulnerable to foreign hacks AP

Cybersecurity – Attack of the health hackers FT *

Cybersecurity – Banks Battle Staffers’ Vulnerability to Hacks WSJ *

Cybersecurity – Hotel sector faces ‘cyber crime wave’ FT

Cybersecurity – The terrorist in the data E * *

Cybersecurity – Sector struggles to fill skills gap FT * *

Cybersecurity – Universities brace for wave of cyber attacks FT

Cybersecurity – Cybercrime the second most common crime in the UK q *



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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




---

COMMODITIES

Crops – Demand for craft beers sparks surge in US hop production AP

Crops – Traders catch the natural foods bug FT * *

Crops – Weak consumption growth weighs on grains FT

Crops – Black Sea a fragile link for wheat FT * * *

Crops – Japan pinning hopes on new rice varietals N *

Crops – Reinvigorating Asia’s rice bowl n *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

NatGas – Moves to hedge Australia LNG exposure FT *

NatGas – Surge helps Mexico manufacturers FT * *

NatGas – Industrial Demand to Slip for First Time in Six Years / b *



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HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

What people in your state want for Christmas vox *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Oil

PBOC – Beige Book Shows ‘Disturbing’ Economic Deterioration
Media – Newspapers: Up against the paywall
Commods – Won’t Bottom Until Late 2016



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MAJOR DATA POINTS




---

MARKETS

Currencies – PBOC guides renminbi higher after weaker run FT / FT

Currencies – China Signals Loosening Peg to Dollar WSJ / FT / NYT

Currencies – Pledge to Divorce Yuan from Dollar Faces Test WSJ / NYT *

Currencies – Don’t Be Afraid of China Currency Gift Basket WSJ *

Currencies – Doubts grow over Wright’s connection to Bitcoin ft / FT



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ECONOMICS




---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Spain – Ruling Popular Party Loses Parliamentary Majority WSJ / FT / B *

Spain – Newcomers seek to transform politics FT *



---

MONETARY POLICY

PBOC – Beige Book Shows ‘Disturbing’ Economic Deterioration B *



---

FINANCE

China – Easing Cycle Keeps on Spinning WSJ *

China – Insurer valuations double banks as premiums soar FT / FT *



---

REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




---

SERVICES

Media – Bezos Takes Hands-On Role at WaPo WSJ / B *

Media – Investors See Red As Alibaba Splurges on Ink WSJ *

Media – Newspapers: Up against the paywall E *

Media – ‘Why you should fear for the future of news’ wapo *



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MANUFACTURING




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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




---

COMMODITIES

Commods – Tumbling prices shake index FT *

Commods – Won’t Bottom Until Late 2016 IBD

Commods – Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting for a Wave of Defaults B *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Crude prices head towards new 2015 low as drilling rebounds R

Oil – Opec discord fuels further price drop FT *

Oil – Opec remains divided N *

Oil – $100b Evaporates as World’s Worst Major Plunges 90% B *

Oil – World’s Cheapest Crude Is Already Close to $20 B * *

Oil – Any end in sight for the big slide? FT *

Oil – Crude Moves Out to Sea as Inventories Swell WSJ *

Oil – US Congress lifts export ban FT / WSJ / FT / WSJ * *

Oil – US Exports Boost Prospects for Small Foreign Trading Houses WSJ *

Oil – US Crude Is Too Good, Too Expensive, Too Far for Asia B *

Oil – End of US Export Ban Puts China in Slippery Situation WSJ *

Oil – US Output has First Drop Since 2011 B

Oil – In China Shipping Revamp, This Tanker Operator Is Slickest WSJ *

Oil – What Went Wrong in Price Forecasts? WSJ *

Oil – US price gap vanishing for first time in shale era R

Oil – Don’t Count on a Rally If US Export Ban Is Lifted B *

Oil – Permian producers are among top-performing stocks WSJ *

Oil – Siberian Surprise: Russia Just Keeps Pumping B / B * *



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HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

The Humongous Fungus: the largest living organism on Earth motw *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: US Health Insurance

BOJ – Befuddles With Surprise Move
Butter – Meltdown as US Spot Price Plummets Most in 11 Years
Coal – Mass Layoffs in China Threaten Unrest



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Germany – Dec: Ifo business confidence dips; 108.7 from 109.0 / AFP

US – Dec: Markit services falls to 12-month low; 53.7 from 56.1 / m



---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Japan – Abe Debuts New Social Programs to Help Economy WSJ *

Japan – Ends ‘love hotels’ affair in favour of hostels FT *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Japan – Income tax reform next on Tokyo’s to-do list N



---

MONETARY POLICY

BOJ – Japan Tankan survey eases pressure FT / b *

BOJ – Befuddles With Surprise Move WSJ / FT / NYT / B / WSJ



---

FINANCE

Japan – Mega Banks are Mega Cheap WSJ *



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REAL ESTATE




---

LABOR & EDUCATION

Japan – Unemployment falls to 20-year low FT / WSJ *

Japan – Abe calls for steady minimum wage rises FT

Japan – Tokyo’s Test: Policy vs. Demographics wsj



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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




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COMMODITIES

Butter – Meltdown as US Spot Price Plummets Most in 11 Years B *

Honey – Canada production jumps to 9-year high CBC



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Coal – Worst Days Behind It as Archaic Grid Crimps Gas Growth B *

Coal – ‘Clean’ technology fails to capture world’s attention AP

Coal – Pit Closure Marks Dying Embers of UK Industry WSJ / FT / WSJ / FT *

Coal – Mass Layoffs in China Threaten Unrest NYT *

Coal – Alberta and BC suffering from severe downturn G&M

Coal – Write-down on MT plant slashes value 87% AP

Coal – Some See Long-Term Decline NYT

Coal – Hard to Dethrone in Asia WSJ * *

Coal – Australia riding train despite climate pleas AFP



---

HEALTH

Insurance – Penalties Will Cost More Than Coverage for Millions B / NYT *

Insurance – Official Makes Tweaks as Insurer Complaints Grow B *

Insurance – The Woman Who Has 13 Months to Bolster Obamacare B *

Insurance – UnitedHealth Says It Should Have Stayed Out of ACA B / Hill

Insurance – Obamacare’s Fate May Rest on Patience of Aetna, Anthem B

Insurance – Hospitals Feel Pain as UnitedHealth Eyes Obamacare Exit B *

Insurance – Lone profitable ACA co-op losing millions AP

Insurance – Regulation may hurt other firms, but health thrives on it E *

Insurance – CBO projects 2m fewer jobs under ObamaCare hill

Insurance – Obamacare and the Cockroaches nyt *

Insurance – Rubio Quietly Undermines Affordable Care Act NYT / AP

Insurance – Senate Votes to Repeal Obamacare NYT

Insurance – Congress Readies Blows to Obama’s Health Care Law NYT / B

Insurance – Obamacare Supporters Make Case for Big Changes wsj



---

ENDNOTE

A strange strip of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan motw * *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Retail

LatAm – Populist Collapse Cheered With Foreign Inflows
China – Chips away at US, Taiwan semiconductor dominance
Alt – ‘What Happened in Solar Is Bigger Than Oil Exports’



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Nov: Trade account returns to deficit as exports fall; -3.3% not -1.5% / AP / R

NZ – Q3: Economy Grew More Than Forecast; +0.9% from +0.3% / B

EZ – Q3: Wage Growth Slows; +1.4% from +2.0% / WSJ

US – Week: Jobless Claims Fell; -11k to 271k / WSJ / R



---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Brazil – Fitch Downgrades to Junk, With Negative Outlook WSJ / B

Brazil – Gloom on Finances Deepens WSJ *

Brazil – Farm barter is back R *

Brazil – Waxing and waning e *

Argentina – Investors await Macri reforms FT / WSJ *

Argentina – Macri lifts capital controls FT / WSJ *

Ecuador – Cheap Oil and Strong Dollar: Twin Troubles WSJ *

Caribbean – Struggles to attract investment FT *

Puerto Rico – Warns of Looming Default Without Bankruptcy Plan NYT



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Brazil – Rousseff Administration Popularity Falls To 9% WSJ / R

Venezuela – On edge of political crisis FT

LatAm – Populist ‘Pink Tide’ Ebbing? WSJ / E *

LatAm – Populist Collapse Cheered With Foreign Inflows B * * *



---

MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Expects ‘Gradual’ Tightening Path WSJ / FT / NYT / R / B *

Fed – Turns to new tool to lift US interest rates FT *



---

FINANCE

US – Banks raise prime rates after Fed move FT *



---

REAL ESTATE




---

LABOR & EDUCATION




---

SERVICES

Retail – Lower end of the market adds to China’s mass appeal FT *

Retail – Stores Feel the Heat of Lost Winter Clothing Sales NYT

Retail – Amazon Is Capturing Bigger Slice B *

Retail – Web Sales Hum, but With Smaller Orders WSJ *

Retail – “How is the economy hitting your holiday haul?” / B *

Retail – Walmart square footage per person by US state / motw *

Retail – UK shops buy into ‘Small Business Saturday’ FT *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH

China – Tries to Influence Fight Over Internet Control NYT / FT

China – ‘Robolution’ Looms Over Foxconn IBD

China – Aims to Build Its Own Secure Smartphones WSJ *

China – Chips away at US, Taiwan semiconductor dominance R

China – Tsinghua Criticizes Opposition to Chip Ambitions in Taiwan WSJ

China – Tough times in store for PC makers in Chongqing N *

China – Becoming aggressive in LCD panel, microchip production N *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Delivery – FedEx Is Poised to Deliver WSJ / WSJ *

Delivery – Holiday Online Orders Taking Longer WSJ *

Delivery – Amazon’s instant gratification service aims to disrupt FT * *

Delivery – UPS Struggles to Keep Up With Surge in Web Orders WSJ *



---

COMMODITIES




---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Alt – Wind, Solar Companies Get Boost From Tax-Credit Extension WSJ

Alt – Wind and solar groups cheer US budget tax breaks FT

Alt – ‘What Happened in Solar Is Bigger Than Oil Exports’ B / pvm * *

Alt – Solar Industry battles ‘white privilege’ image problem R *



---

HEALTH

Pharma – Groups turn to asset swaps to boost growth FT *

Pharma – Combination drugs engulf India R *



---

ENDNOTE

Santa Shaming: Toronto mall has younger, thinner ‘Fashion Santa’ UPI *



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