Today’s Issue Cluster: US Real Estate
Ukraine – Soviet Yearnings: Hopes Rise in Transnistria of a Russian Annexation
US – ‘Housing Market Is Still Holding Back the Economy’
Defense – Strong US firm profits defy regular gloomy warnings
Japan – Apr: Inflation Quickens to Fastest Since 1992; +2.7% / B / WSJ / K / b / * *
China’s First-Quarter Current-Account Surplus Narrowed; +$7b from +$44b / WSJ / b *
US – Apr: Consumer sentiment up more than expected; 84.1 from 80.0 / R / B / r *
Ukraine – S&P Downgrades Russia to BBB-Minus, One Notch Above Junk WSJ / AP / B
Ukraine – Russia raises interest rates FT / NYT / AP
Ukraine – Putin says sanctions hurt Russian economy, but not critically R
Ukraine – Obama: New sanctions against Russia are ‘teed up’ AP / FT / WSJ
Ukraine – Russian memo to WTO says sanctions are illegal R
Ukraine – Putin Drops Plan to Boost Economy Through Spending WSJ
Ukraine – Gulf states gain from Russia’s debt freeze FT *
Ukraine – US & EU trade dependency on Russia / b *
Ukraine – Divisions Extend to East Itself WSJ *
Ukraine – Soviet Yearnings: Hopes Rise in Transnistria of a Russian Annexation S / E *
ECB – Ready to Act if Inflation Misses Target WSJ / B / S *
ECB – QE: real prospect or fantasy game? FT / r *
China – Financial System to be Tested as Trust Products Mature WSJ *
US – Demand for Home Loans Plunges WSJ *
US – ‘Housing Market Is Still Holding Back the Economy’ nyt * * *
US – A lack of supply means lofty house prices are unlikely to fall far E *
US – Jumbo Mortgage Rates Lower Than Expected WSJ / B *
US – Mortgage Lenders Ease Rules for Home Buyers in Hunt for Business WSJ * * *
US – Prices surging — in part because houses are getting bigger wapo * *
US – Chinese take Manhattan: replace Russians as top apartment buyers R
US – AIA Billings Index indicated contraction in March cr *
E-Cigs – Makers Breathe Easier After FDA Proposes Rules WSJ / NYT / AP / R / B / WSJ *
E-Cigs – Tobacco’s Vapor Labor Looks Good on Paper WSJ *
E-Cigs – US groups light up for extra marketing FT
Defense – Ukraine Crisis Boosting Interest in Military Hardware, Says Saab Chief WSJ
Defense – Strong US firm profits defy regular gloomy warnings R *
Internet – FCC accused of violating net neutrality FT / WSJ / NYT / R
Parcels – Amazon, in Threat to UPS, Tries Its Own Deliveries WSJ * *
Markets – Shift to Brighter View of China WSJ *
Markets – Bigger food price swings hit consumer goods groups FT *
Alt – Global investment in clean energy E *
Alt – Wind: China’s Turbine Makers Face Market Consolidation B
Alt – Solar: German Power Premium Shrinking on Surge B *
Alt – Biofuels: Fuels from corn waste not better than gas AP
Alt – Biofuels: Wasted energy FT *
Sugar – Drastic measures FT * * *
Baseball’s Borders Refined: Mets & A’s Don’t Have a Single Zip Code NYT * * *
