Today’s Issue Cluster: China
ECB – Readies back door step to loosen policy
E-Cigs – Elude the Authorities Under Aliases
Planes – As Boeing, Airbus factories hum, suppliers get rattled
China – Jan: HSBC services PMI ticks up; 51.0 from 50.7 / R *
Australia – Q4: Economy Expanded Faster Than Forecast; +0.8% from 0.6% / B / SMH / Aus / ABC
South Africa – Feb: HSBC PMI rises; 51.5 from 50.3 / m *
EZ – Feb: Markit PMI shows business activity picking up speed; 53.3 from 52.9 / FT / AP / m * *
EZ – Jan: Economic Expansion Accelerates as Retails Sales Rise; +1.6% / WSJ *
Brazil – Feb: HSBC business activity expands; 50.8 from 49.9 / m *
UK – Feb: Markit Services PMI Expands for 14th Month as Confidence Increases; 58.2 from 58.3 / B / WSJ / m *
US – Feb: ADP private sector adds jobs; +139k from +127k / R / WSJ / AP / B *
US – Feb: ISM Service Industries Expand at Slowest Pace in Four Years; 51.6 from 54.0 / R / WSJ / B / r * *
US – Jan: CoreLogic House Prices up; +12% / cr *
US – Week: MBA Mortgage Applications Increase; +9% / cr / r *
China – Sets 7.5% Growth Target WSJ / FT / R / B / AP / q * *
China – Sinopec sale points to next round of state privatization R *
China – Property promotions add to price correction concerns R
China – Property Trust Defaults Forecast as Risks Flagged B
China – Unlikely to see a sharp correction in property market R
China – Population Weighted YoY Home Price Index May Be at a Turning Point / b *
China – Banks Show Too-Connected-to-Fail Link to Loans B
China – High-Interest Web Banks on the Rise NYT
China – Yuan must trade lower if Beijing is to rein in lending FT
Ukraine – US considers sanctions on Russian banks FT / AP / WSJ / FT *
Ukraine – Putin’s Gambit Stings Economy as Allies Lose Billions B
Ukraine – Rouble rebounds as tension fades FT
Ukraine – Russia spends $11b supporting rouble FT / r *
Ukraine – EU unveils €11bn aid package to shore up Kiev FT / AP / WSJ
Ukraine – USDA Official: Grain Markets May Have Reacted Prematurely WSJ
Ukraine – Gazprom to raise gas prices for Kiev FT / WSJ / AP / RIAN * *
Ukraine – World’s 6th largest wheat exporter / b *
Ukraine – How forces stack up / R / bi * *
Ukraine – Russian speakers: Smaller subdivisions / motw *
Ukraine – Germany Appears Crucial to Ending Crisis NYT / WSJ / B / tnr * * *
Ukraine – EU Dependency On Gazprom / bi / r * *
Ukraine – Russia warns could ‘reduce to zero’ economic dependency on US AFP
Ukraine – Russian reserves on a downward path, -$17b so far this year / r *
Ukraine – Russia Tries to Woo Back Moldova S *
ECB – Readies back door step to loosen policy R / B / r * *
ECB – Draghi seeks to revive reviled loan bundles to boost credit FT *
ECB – Slower pace of lending declines / b *
Italy – Time to modernise FT * *
Turkey – Turmoil Puts Property Market at Risk WSJ / WSJ / WSJ *
E-Cigs – Elude the Authorities Under Aliases NYT *
Tobacco – China: Government coughers E *
Planes – Air Lease Warns on Asian Jet Boom WSJ
Planes – As Boeing, Airbus factories hum, suppliers get rattled R
Cloud – New Software Firms Take Off WSJ *
Water – In California, Drought Plays Out Unexpectedly WSJ
Water – Brazil Drought Jolts Commodities’ Prices WSJ * *
NatGas – Surge in US Prices Deflates Hopes in Asia WSJ *
NatGas – Cold winter brings relief to Canada producers G&M *
NatGas – Japan’s nuclear power plan changes the price equation for BC LNG G&M * *
What your candy says about your politics wapo *
