Today’s Issue Cluster: World Conflicts
US – ND Leads on the Road to Economic Recovery
BOC – Rate cut off table, with signs of improving economy
Air – Pilot shortage? Not clear, report says
China – Feb: HSBC manufacturing PMI hits seven-month low; 48.5 from 49.5 / R / AP / WSJ *
China – Feb: Official PMI Falls in Latest Sign of Slowdown; 50.2 from 50.5 / WSJ / AP / B
China – Feb: Official services PMI rises to three-month high; 55.0 from 53.4 / R
Japan – Q4: Business investment up; +4.0% / K
Japan – Feb: New car sales rise for 6th consecutive month; +15% / K
Australia – Jan: HIA new home sales growth back on track; +0.5%, +17% yr / Aus / SMH *
EZ – Feb: Markit manufacturing continues to fuel recovery; 53.2 from 54.0 / FT / m *
UK – Jan: Lenders approved most mortgages since start of the financial crisis; 77k from 72k / R / B
US – Jan: Consumer spending up; +0.4% from +0.1% / AP / WSJ / R / B *
US – Feb: ISM’s manufacturing PMI increased; 53.2 from 51.3 / WSJ / R / B *
US – Feb: Markit factory activity growth hits highest since May 2010; 57.1 was 56.7 / R / m *
US – Jan: Construction spending unexpectedly rose; +0.1% from +1.5% / R *
Currencies – China Steps Up Effort to Weaken Yuan WSJ / FT / NYT *
Currencies – Almost Half a Billion Worth of Bitcoins Vanish WSJ *
Currencies – Britain to scrap VAT on Bitcoin trades FT / WSJ
Currencies – Japan says any bitcoin regulation should be international R *
US – That 2014 Growth Breakout? Not Looking Likely WSJ *
US – ND Leads on the Road to Economic Recovery NYT *
Ukraine – US, Europe Threaten to Punish Putin WSJ / FT / R / NYT * * *
Ukraine – Russia Raises Main Rate as Crisis Threatens Economy B / WSJ
Ukraine – Tensions lift haven currencies FT / WSJ
Ukraine – Grain Prices Surge on Crisis WSJ
Ukraine – Oil prices spike on Russia sanctions fears AP
Ukraine – Russia Gas Threat Shows Putin Using Pipelines to Pressure B / WaPo / bi / bi * *
Ukraine – Rouble likely to be casualty of conflict FT
Ukraine – Wheat, Corn Surge on Fears Unrest May Cut Exports WSJ
China – Dozens stabbed to death in separatist attack FT / NYT / B
NK – Fires two short-range missiles into sea R
Philippines – A long-running insurgency may at last be coming to an end E *
Turkey – Leader’s Resilience Shows in Swing Districts WSJ *
Egypt – Strikes sweep nation as economy struggles FT
Syria – Hizbollah recruitment surge as sectarian conflict spreads DT *
Venezuela – In search of a solution FT * * *
BOC – Rate cut off table, with signs of improving economy G&M
US – Student Loans Entice Borrowers More for Cash Than a Degree WSJ *
Spain – Soros and Paulson each take €92m bet FT *
Gaming – Casinos Are Ready to Bet on Japan WSJ / R / FT *
Gaming – China New Year Adds Upside To Wynn, Las Vegas Sands IBD
Gaming – Macau’s Casinos Try to Lure High Rollers Outside the Junket System BW *
Defense – US military: Boots off the ground FT * * * *
Mobiles – China’s sector grows up superfast FT / FT *
Air – Pilot shortage? Not clear, report says AP / R / NYT
Air – Cost in US stable the last decade, 17% cheaper than 20 years ago cd *
Gold – Bugs Return After Last Year’s Rout WSJ / FT * * *
Electricity – German Companies Take Back the Power WSJ *
Electricity – Utilities Push New Storage Technologies WSJ
Viruses – Approach of Mosquito-Borne Disease Has US on Alert WSJ *
How much is time wrong around the world? poisson / kottke *
