Bz Nwz




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Today’s Issue Cluster: Oil

World – Gold bugs prosper in negative yielding world
F&B – China Embraces Craft Beers, and Giants Take Notice
World – Markets Putting Faith in QE4?



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Q4: Economy Contracts Again; -1.4% from +1.3% / R / FT / WSJ / B / AP

China – Jan: Exports Drop; -11.2% from -1.4% / B / WSJ / FT

Thailand – Q4: Economy Gets Government Spending Boost; +3.8% / B

US – Feb: NAHB Homebuilder Confidence Declines to Nine-Month Low; 58 from 61 / B



---

MARKETS

World – FX unmoved by negative interest rates FT *

World – Gold bugs prosper in negative yielding world FT *

World – Five Countries Being Squeezed by Currency Pegs B *



---

ECONOMICS

World – Risk Grows of Markets Sparking Recession WSJ *

World – Economists, CEOs: Recession Risk Rising WSJ *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY

World – Markets Putting Faith in QE4? WSJ *

World – ‘Turning Japanese’ / vc *

World – Slaves of the markets e *



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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

F&B – Cocktails Sip Away at Beer’s Market Share WSJ *

F&B – China Embraces Craft Beers, and Giants Take Notice NYT

F&B – Will Megabrew Deal Usher In A New Era For Beer? IBD

F&B – Champagne sales set for record year R

F&B – Craft Breweries / statista *



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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




---

COMMODITIES

Sugar – Asian nations get sweet on soda taxes FT * *

Sugar – Cameron to scrap tax plans FT



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Iran still an obstacle to output freeze R / FT / WSJ / AP / NYT / B *

Oil – Putin’s Reward for Deal Overshadowed by Risks B / B *

Oil – More Cuts Loom as Price Nears $25 WSJ *

Oil – IEA Warns Prices Could Fall Further WSJ / R / B * *

Oil – What Storage Signals Mean for Prices WSJ *

Oil – US stocks top 500m barrels for first time since 1930 cr *

Oil – How Much Output Halted Due to Low Prices? Just 0.1% B *

Oil – Here Comes $20 Bn *

Oil – Iran Sending Crude to EU in Bid to Regain Lost Market B / WSJ *

Oil – North Sea companies in danger amid debt spillage FT *

Oil – Declining Chinese Production Good for Prices WSJ *

Oil – China Turns a Glut Into a Flood of Diesel B *

Oil – Break-even model: Cracking the shale enigma B *

Oil – Tumbling gas price blows hole in UK shale industry’s ambitions FT *

Oil – Business model under increasing pressure FT *

Oil – ‘The Cheap Date From Hell’ BW *

Oil – BP offers positive outlook driven by surge in demand FT * *

Oil – EMs now account for the majority of global consumption WSJ *

Oil – Fuel Demand Is Poised to Melt Away B *



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HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Oil is Dirt Cheap … Literally vc *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: European Banks

Germany – DAX Needs More Than a Deutsche Bank Rebound
Autos – Hedge Funds Want to Make Subprime Loans Next Big Short
Gold – Resilient as This Year’s Best Commodity



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Q4: Economy remains sluggish; +0.3% from +0.3% / FT / NYT / WSJ *

EZ – Dec: Industrial production down; -1.0%, +1.1% yr / eu *

US – Jan: Retail Sales Rose; +0.2% from +0.2% / WSJ / R

US – Jan: Import Prices Fell; -1.1% from -1.1% / WSJ

US – Feb: UMich consumer sentiment fell; 90.7 from 92.0 / R

US – Dec: Business inventories edged up; +0.1% from -0.1% / R



---

MARKETS

World – Stocks Slide Into Bear Market Amid Oil Rout as Yen Jumps B *

World – Rush for havens as market turmoil intensifies FT / WSJ *

Germany – DAX Needs More Than a Deutsche Bank Rebound B *

Portugal – Sovereign Bonds Take Hit Amid Risk Aversion WSJ / b *



---

ECONOMICS

EU – Economic Outlook Darkens, Sends Shudder Through Markets B *

EU – Crumbling Inflation Outlook Matches Record Low B *

Greece – Fears That More Austerity Pain is Ahead WSJ *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Russia – Putin’s unshakeable popularity e *



---

MONETARY POLICY

SR – Sweden Cuts Further Below Zero WSJ / FT / NYT / AP *

SR – Why does Sweden’s move matter? FT *

ECB – Will not ‘surrender’ to low inflation FT / WSJ *



---

FINANCE

World – Banks Drop as Global Rout Deepens WSJ *

World – Credit Barometer Flashes a Warning Sign on Banks WSJ *

EU – Bank turmoil: are new bail-in rules to blame? FT

EU – Finance ministers hold firm on tougher bank rules FT / FT

EU – Banks uneasy over deeper negative interest rates FT / FT *

EU – Banks Keep Getting Clobbered WSJ *

EU – ‘A tempest of fear’ E *

EU – Deutsche Bank insists it is ‘rock solid’ ft / NYT * *

EU – Italy Merger Close to Create Country’s Third-Largest Lender WSJ

EU – Middle-East Investors Unlikely to Play White Knight Again WSJ *

EU – Annus Horribilis B *

EU – ‘Reality Check: This Isn’t 2008’ B / WSJ *



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REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING

Autos – Hedge Funds Want to Make Subprime Loans Next Big Short B *



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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Maersk warns conditions worse than during 2008 FT / WSJ *

Ship – Maersk’s stumble highlights sluggish global trade FT / BW * * *



---

COMMODITIES

Gold – Roars to One-Year High B / FT / R *

Gold – The Big Beneficiary of Negative Rates WSJ *

Gold – Resilient as This Year’s Best Commodity B *

Gold – Global Demand was Flat in 2015 WSJ

Gold – Investors are cautiously returning to fickle market E *



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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




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HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Country names in their official languages reddit *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Delivery

US – Builders and Factories Alleviate Recession Fears
Fed – Odds of Rate Cut in ’16 Rise
US – Renters Buying Again as Starter-Home Financing Gets Cheaper



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

Week – US: Applications for jobless aid fell; -16k to 269k / AP / B / R / WSJ



---

MARKETS

US – Is it just growth pains ailing stocks? FT *



---

ECONOMICS

US – Risk of recession low but rising FT *

US – A Recession Could Arrive Without a Yield Curve Warning WSJ *

US – Big Companies Pull Back After Rough Quarter WSJ *

US – Builders and Factories Alleviate Recession Fears B *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

US – Debt Burden: It’s Gotten a Bit Less Bad WSJ *



---

MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Flags Risks That Could Delay Rate Increases WSJ / FT / NYT / R / B *

Fed – Signals Path Hinges on Whether Turmoil Persists B *

Fed – Odds of Rate Cut in ’16 Rise B *



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FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE

US – Renters Buying Again as Starter-Home Financing Gets Cheaper B *

US – Framing Lumber Prices Down Sharply cr *

US – Construction fights to retain foreign-born employees FT *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

US – The Thorny Economics of Illegal Immigration WSJ * *



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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Delivery – Start-Ups Face Road Bumps to Capture Untapped Market NYT

Delivery – Amazon expands logistics reach in China R

Delivery – Gannett Explores Parcel Business WSJ

Delivery – Uber is destroying the bike messenger Crain’s

Delivery – DHL’s Drone Demonstration Fails to Deliver WSJ *

Delivery – EU Approves FedEx Acquisition of TNT Express WSJ *



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COMMODITIES

Sugar – For tax supporters, 2016 may be the sweet spot R

Sugar – Smuggling Into China Stirs Market WSJ



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

HEALTH

Insurance – Results on ACA worsened for many last year WSJ *

Insurance – Enrollment growth in Obamacare slower than expected LAT

Insurance – Obamacare markets face fresh troubles FT *

Insurance – Obama Administration Works to Fix Co-Ops WSJ *

Insurance – UnitedHealth Raises Forecast for Losses on ACA Plans WSJ

Insurance – Costs Climbing as More Enroll Past Deadline NYT / WSJ

Insurance – Obamacare Will Probably Cost More in 2017 B



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ENDNOTE

A 100m year old coastline has created a blue belt of Southern voters dsn *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: HigherEd

Japan – Bets on stronger yen hit nearly 6-year high
Ads – Adblock Plus, scourge of websites, seeks industry deal
Coal – Monthly use for US power falls to 35-year low



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

X



---

MARKETS

Japan – Bets on stronger yen hit nearly 6-year high R *

Japan – Markets Shaken as Investors Seek Shelter WSJ *

Japan – Investors in No Mood for Bargains B *

Japan – Negative Yields Reflect Lack of Alternatives WSJ / FT / NYT / WSJ / B *



---

ECONOMICS

Japan – Weakening yen no longer coming to the rescue of companies FT *

Japan – Consumption Seen Dropping as Workers Eke Out 0.1% Rise B *

Japan – Birth rate recovery questioned FT * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Japan – How Abenomics Reached an Impasse WSJ *



---

MONETARY POLICY

BOJ – Board members warn of global race to cut interest rates FT *

BOJ – Kuroda is Smarter Than a Robot WSJ *



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FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE

Japan – Negative Rates Are Rocket Fuel for Property Stocks WSJ *

Japan – Slowly Opens the Door to the Sharing Economy WSJ * *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

HigherEd – Apollo Sold to Investors With Obama Ties IHE / WSJ / NYT / FT *

HigherEd – Apple University One Step Closer? B

HigherEd – Income for Recent Graduates the Highest in Over a Decade WSJ *

HigherEd – Thousands Apply to Forgive Their Student Loans WSJ

HigherEd – US Helps Shaky Colleges Cope With Bad Student Loans WSJ * *

HigherEd – Richest US universities reel in donors FT *

HigherEd – Schools Draw More Chinese WSJ *

HigherEd – More Chinese students seeking US community college degrees AP



---

SERVICES

Ads – Adblock Plus, scourge of websites, seeks industry deal AFP

Ads – Retailers tap into social mobility FT * * * *



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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

Coal – Supreme Court deals blow to Obama WSJ / FT / NYT

Coal – Monthly use for US power falls to 35-year low R

Coal – Federal sales moratorium shakes industry stronghold AP / AP / AP

Coal – ‘Appalachian Miners Are Learning to Code’ B *

Coal – India goes from shortage to glut FT *

Coal – The rock that rocked the world E *



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

HigherEd Map of Boston area colleges / motw *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Aviation

Bonds – Toxic Loans Around the World Weigh on Global Growth
India – Could Edge Out China From Top Growth Spot in 2016
Alt – China Coal-Smog Challenge Boosts Solar Companies



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Germany – 2015: Exports top new record; +6.4% / AFP

Germany – Dec: Exports declined; -1.6% / AFP

US – Dec: JOLTS job openings up; 5.607m from 5.346m / sa

US – Dec: Wholesale inventories fall; -0.1% from -0.4% / R

US – Jan: NFIB small business confidence at two-year low; 93.9 from 95.2 / R



---

MARKETS

Bonds – Falling yields reflect a flight to safety FT *

Bonds – Core long-term yields heading lower FT *

Bonds – Government yields send recession signal FT *

Bonds – Toxic Loans Around the World Weigh on Global Growth NYT



---

ECONOMICS

India – Stays at top of growth table with 7.3% GDP rise FT *

India – Optimism blurred by economic gloom FT * *

India – Could Edge Out China From Top Growth Spot in 2016 B *

India – Internet: Laying the foundations FT * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




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MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

India – Why a Bank Cleanse Could Be Rewarding WSJ *

India – Invents the 10-Second Loan WSJ



---

REAL ESTATE

India – Unfinished Apartments Haunt Home Buyers in Big Cities WSJ



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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

Air – US and 22 other countries agree to cut aircraft emissions FT / NYT / R

Air – Traffic Jumps Most in Five Years B

Air – Lines Reap Record Profits NYT *

Air – A lack of competition means high US fares E *

Air – Market share war goes hot as domestic fares fall B *

Air – Lines Bet on Long Oil Slump B *

Air – Lines Challenge Low-Cost Foes on Fares WSJ *

Air – US lines Face Uphill Struggle Against Mideast Rivals NYT *

Air – Battle brews in Gulf as Iran eyes regional hub role R

Air – Unnerving but uncommon / E *



---

COMMODITIES

Wheat – Ground Shifts Under Export Market WSJ *

Wheat – Egypt’s rejection of cargoes frustrates traders FT *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Alt – ADM considers calling time on ethanol mills as oil fall bites FT *

Alt – Renewable-Energy Investors Pull Back From Europe WSJ *

Alt – China Coal-Smog Challenge Boosts Solar Companies IBD

Alt – Energy Giant’s Flameout Can Yield Opportunity WSJ *



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

World’s shortest commercial flight motw *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: US Labor

Fed – The Probability of Negative Rates Is on the Rise
Ship – Financial distress as dry bulk crisis deepens
Fish – California Calls In the Fish Matchmaker



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Dec: 18th Straight Current-Account Surplus; +¥961b / B

India – Q4: Growth better-than-expected; +7.3% from +7.7% / AFP



---

MARKETS

EMs – Bond Investors Head to Mexico WSJ *

EMs – Central Banks Battle Capital Flight WSJ *



---

ECONOMICS

Asia – Surging household debt FT *

Asia – Evolving place in the world N *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Jobs Report Keeps March Rate Increase in Limbo WSJ

Fed – Can Find Positives in Details of Jobs Report B * * *

Fed – January Jobs: Right Number at Wrong Time WSJ *

Fed – Investors Cast Wary Eye on Rate Increases WSJ *

Fed – Striking Capitulation in the Futures Market / b *

Fed – The Probability of Negative Rates Is on the Rise B *



---

FINANCE

EMs – Lending comes to halt FT *



---

REAL ESTATE




---

LABOR & EDUCATION

US – Jobs resilient despite global headwinds FT / wsj * *

US – Unemployment-to-Population Ratio vs. Unemployment Rate / b *

US – Lost Oil Jobs Are a Drag b *

US – Unions Added to Ranks in 2015 But Failed to Gain Market Share WSJ *

US – Union membership in WI plummets in wake of GOP measures JS *



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SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Financial distress as dry bulk crisis deepens FT

Ship – China Cosco Expected to Kick Off Further Consolidation WSJ *

Ship – US Spends on River Fixes, Even as Coal Traffic Dwindles WSJ *

Ship – SK Firm Fights to Stay Afloat in Global Storm WSJ *

Ship – Panama Canal expansion to be complete by end of June AFP / R *



---

COMMODITIES

Fish – Salmon leaps past shrimp FT *

Fish – A tale of two fisheries FT * *

Fish – Congress insists on labels for GM salmon FT

Fish – Restaurants Cast a Wider Net for Sustainability NYT

Fish – California Calls In the Fish Matchmaker NYT

Meat – Global changes in consumption / NatlGeo *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

A history of the Fed funds rate since 1979 t *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Trade

US – Prices Are Plunging. So Why Is Everyone Freaking Out?
Cotton – Bangladesh Set to Supplant China as World’s Top Importer
Oil – Could Prices Jump 50% by the End of 2016



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Indonesia – 2015: Growth Beats Estimates; +4.79% from +5.02% / FT / B / AFP

Germany – Dec: Factory Orders Fall; -0.7% from +0.5% / B

US – 2015: Exports fell for first time since recession; -4.8% / AP

US – Jan: US jobs growth slows; +151k from +262k / FT / WSJ / R / NYT / AP / B *



---

MARKETS

Stocks – Tracing Oil’s Hypnosis of Equities From Wealth Funds to Junk B * *

Stocks – Tightest Correlation with Oil in 26 Years WSJ *



---

ECONOMICS

US – Oil Rout Threatens Vicious Cycle for Economy WSJ *

US – Prices Are Plunging. So Why Is Everyone Freaking Out? wsj * *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




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MONETARY POLICY




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FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




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MANUFACTURING




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TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

TPP – Deal signed, but years of negotiations still to come R / AFP

TPP – Senator Portman to Oppose Pact NYT

TPP – Pharma holds key to US ratification FT

TPP – US Election Complicates Passage WSJ

TPP – ‘None of four most likely to be next president in favor’ cfr / NYT

TPP – May Spare US Workers Overall But Slow Factory Hiring WSJ / NYT

TPP – The latest and probably best estimate mr

TPP – Canada will sign trade deal, but ratification not certain CP

TPP – Set to Give Big Boost to Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia WSJ *

TPP – What a Misleading Chart on US Trade Looks Like wsj * *

World – Recovery From Trade Swoon May Be Slow WSJ *



---

COMMODITIES

Rubber – World’s Top Producers Curbing Output WSJ *

Cotton – Bangladesh Set to Supplant China as World’s Top Importer B *

Olive Oil – About to Have Its Moment? B * *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Could Prices Jump 50% by the End of 2016 B *

Oil – Producers retool for lower prices FT *

Oil – Industry’s Plan to Keep Investors Happy: Borrow B *

Oil – Texas Isn’t Scared of $30 B *

Oil – Refiners starting to feel the pressure of record stockpiles / b *

Oil – Iranian Political Battles Pose Risk for Contracts WSJ *

Oil – Don’t underestimate the impact of Middle East politics WSJ / WSJ *

Oil – Collapse brings North Sea fields near end of production FT *

Oil – Hedge funds split over outlook FT *

Oil – From boom to bailout? FT * *



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

From where countries import the most am *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Africa

Trucks – Preliminary US orders down 48%
El Niño – Buffets sugar and cocoa
Zika – Is the Next Front in the Mosquito Wars



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Dec: Factory orders post biggest drop in a year; -2.9% from -0.7% / R

US – Q4: Productivity Falls; -3.0% from +2.1% / WSJ / AP

US – Q4: Unit labor costs rose; +4.5% from +1.9% / R

US – Week: Jobless Claims Rise; +8k to 285k / WSJ / AP



---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Africa – AfDB steps in to plug funding gap FT *

Africa – Electrification plans are stalling because distributors won’t pay E *

Africa – McKinsey predicts 10 cities with $50b+ GDP / motw *

Botswana – Seeks to reap more than diamond dollars FT * *

Botswana – Losing its sparkle E *

Zimbabwe – Swaps hyperinflation for deflation with use of US dollar FT *

Zimbabwe – Close to striking landmark deal with west FT *

Nigeria – Plunging currency piles pressure reform agenda FT / E *

Kenya – Plans spending cuts to curb surging budget deficit FT * *

Kenya – A rare bright spot in EM gloom FT *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

South Africa – Democracy being sorely tested by Zuma E *

South Africa – Self-inflicted wounds FT * * * *



---

MONETARY POLICY

SARB – South Africa Raises Key Interest Rate to Buoy Rand WSJ / FT *



---

FINANCE

Africa – Smartphones pave way for huge opportunities FT / FT *

Africa – Mobile payments race spawns entrepreneurs FT *

Africa – Nigerian groups target ‘100% mobile-first market’ FT *

Africa – Tencent in bid to loosen Facebook’s grip FT *



---

REAL ESTATE




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LABOR & EDUCATION




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SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING

Trucks – Preliminary US orders down 48% R

Trucks – Sales Downshift at Makers WSJ *

Trucks – US Sales Decline / cr *



---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Truck – Companies Throttle Back Expansion Plans WSJ

Truck – ATA Index increased / cr *



---

COMMODITIES

El Niño – Commodity markets now brace for La Niña FT / B *

El Niño – Buffets sugar and cocoa FT / FT

El Niño – US West snow is boosting hydropower prospects / b *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

HEALTH

Zika – Is the Next Front in the Mosquito Wars BW *

Zika – Drug Industry Starts Race to Develop Zika Vaccine WSJ / FT / B *

Zika – Sexually transmitted case confirmed in TX AP / R

Zika – Australia reports two cases R

Zika – Africa, Asia vulnerable to spread of virus R *

Chikungunya – 1st death in Brazil EFE / SciNews *

Chikungunya – If you get virus this summer, maybe blame El Niño PBS *

Dengue – 241 cases as potentially infectious in Hawaii bin *



---

ENDNOTE

Number of venomous animals by country bm *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Autos

EU – Is growth in EZ bank lending to companies fizzling out?
EU – The PIIGS drive employment growth
Auto – US: Drivers Are Back in Record-Setting Fashion



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Dec: Retail Sales Rise for First Time in Four Months; +0.3% from flat / WSJ

US – Jan: ADP Stronger Than Expected; +205k from +267k / WSJ

US – Jan: ISM Services tumbles; 53.5 from 55.3 / B / R

US – Jan: Markit Services down; 53.2 from 54.3 / m

US – Jan: Markit Composite down; 53.2 from 54.0 / m



---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Germany – Exporters Shudder as China Economy Slows WSJ *

Russia – Economists predict long-term decline BW *

UK – Hidden Achilles’ Heel: Households are Net Borrowers WSJ *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY

ECB – Bets of March Interest-Rate Cut Increase After Draghi B *

ECB – Attempt to Revive Securitization Market Falls Flat WSJ *



---

FINANCE

EU – Is growth in EZ bank lending to companies fizzling out? r *



---

REAL ESTATE

UK – Construction activity hits 9-month low FT *

UK – London housebuyers can borrow 40% from the government FT



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

EU – Weak jobless figures heighten concerns about Italian recovery FT *

EU – The PIIGS drive employment growth ft *



---

SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING

Autos – US: Winter Weather Dings Sales WSJ / NYT / AP / wsj *

Autos – US: Makers Overcome Storm for Best January in a Decade B * *

Autos – US: Stocks Sinking After Record Year WSJ / WSJ *

Autos – US: Recalls Last Year Set Record at 51m WSJ *

Autos – Market: Are manufacturers starting to run out of road? FT *

Autos – Upmarket: Record sales FT / FT *

Autos – Upmarket: The New Strategy is Cars Nobody Will Buy B *

Autos – Minivan: Makeover Seeks to Appeal to New Customers WSJ *

Autos – Japan: Toyota may halt output due to steel shortage R

Autos – India: Airbus exec tapped to lead teetering Tata N *

Autos – China: Sales accelerate after tax cuts FT / WSJ AFP

Autos – China: Market isn’t as strong as it looks N *

Autos – Iran: Peugeot and Daimler lead Europe’s carmakers return FT *

Autos – EU: Are regulators too close to industry? FT * *

Autos – Renault: Feels the heat over emissions FT * * *

Autos – Renault: Raids drag down European carmakers’ shares FT *

Autos – VW: Brakes as rivals race ahead in Europe FT

Autos – VW: How to Calculate the Costs to Society of the Scandal WSJ *

Autos – VW: Suppliers see silver lining in scandal FT *

Autos – Diesel: Cars are under threat e *

Autos – Ford: Record earnings as demand for SUVs soar FT *

Autos – Fiat Chrysler: Profit Slumps 40% WSJ *

Autos – Fiat Chrysler: Embarks on Final Mission Impossible B *



---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Auto – US: Drivers Are Back in Record-Setting Fashion wsj *

Auto – US: Driving Is Losing Its Allure WSJ *



---

COMMODITIES




---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Average rent in Berlin / motw *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Tech Giants

Stocks – Quarter of World’s Equity Now in Less-Than-Zero Land
Lighting – GE to Phase Out CFL Bulbs
NatGas – A fragmented market is on the verge of going global



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Dec: Unemployment falls to 4-year low; 10.4% from 10.5% / AFP / eu *



---

MARKETS

Stocks – US Join Slump in Global Shares Amid China, Oil Concerns B *

Stocks – DB: If You Think the US Is in Recession, Buy Now B *

Stocks – JPM: The Window to Buy Has Shut for Now B *

Stocks – Equities vs. the Economy: Which Ruins Which? WSJ

Stocks – Quarter of World’s Equity Now in Less-Than-Zero Land B *



---

ECONOMICS

US – Economists see 20% chance of recession FT *

US – State Coincident Indexes Increased in 39 States cr *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

US – Time to Buy Bank Stocks Bn *

US – Bank shares look oversold FT *



---

REAL ESTATE

US – ‘Glimmer of Hope’ That Homeownership Rate Is on the Upswing wsj *

US – Millennials caught in the parent trap FT * *

US – The Surge in Mansion Prices Is Now Over B * *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION




---

SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING

Lighting – GE to Phase Out CFL Bulbs NYT

Lighting – Industrial giants caught in LED headlights FT * *



---

TECH

Google – Rising Profits at Core Businesses WSJ / FT / R / WSJ *

Google – Passes Apple as World’s Most Valuable Company B / NYT *

Google – Investors await details of ‘moonshot’ ventures FT *

Google – Hearing Facebook’s Footsteps WSJ *

Facebook – Shares surge as mobile ads muscle grows FT *

Facebook – Cashes in on digital advertising FT * *

Amazon – Reports Best-Ever Earnings But Still Disappoints WSJ / FT *

Amazon – Shipping Costs Swell in Holiday Crunch wsj *

Microsoft – Earnings Show Vitality in Old and New Lines WSJ / FT / WSJ *

Yahoo – Mayer to Unveil Cost-Cutting Plan WSJ / B *

Yahoo – Last Roundup Could Lasso a 35% Gain Bn *

GAFAM – Strong Dollar Batters Earnings for Tech Firms WSJ *

GAFAM – Volatile earnings season point to big shifts FT *

GAFAM – Taxing Google and Other US Giants Is Dividing Europe NYT / FT

Unicorns – Corralling billion-dollar start-ups N *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




---

COMMODITIES




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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

NatGas – A fragmented market is on the verge of going global E *

NatGas – The Growing Ranks of LNG Importers / b *



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HEALTH




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ENDNOTE

Religions of the members of the US House of Representatives reddit *



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