Today’s Issue Cluster: Japan
India – From northern backwaters, a new business elite rises
Autos – Carmakers fear EM gloom could overshadow EU rebound
Obamacare – Insurers’ Losses May Reach $5.5b in 2015
Germany – Jan: Manufacturing Orders Jump; +1.2% from -0.2% / WSJ / B
UK – Feb: Halifax house prices see fastest growth in five years; +2.4% from +1.1% / R / r *
Greece – Dec: Jobless Rate Remains High; 27.5% from 27.6% / WSJ
India – Q4: Current-Account Gap Narrows to Four-Year Low on Gold; -$4.2b from -$5.2b / B
South Africa – Feb: SACCI business confidence rises; 91.9 from 90.5 / R
US – Jan: Factory orders fall; -0.7% from -2.0% / R / AP *
US = Q4: Productivity slows; +1.8% was +3.2% / AP / R *
US – Week: Jobless claims tumble to three-month low; -26k to 323k / R / AP / WSJ / B *
US – Feb: Challenger planned layoffs fell; -7.3% / R *
Bonds – Junk rally approaches end of line FT *
Bonds – Deflation fears drive down eurozone borrowing costs FT / FT *
Bonds – Fed Was Biggest Buyer of Treasuries in 2013 NYT *
Bonds – Sales of US munis plunge in February R *
Bonds – Munis Regain Popularity WSJ *
India – Official GDP Figures Keep Shifting wsj *
India – From northern backwaters, a new business elite rises R *
India – India sets Modi-Gandhi poll battle date FT / WSJ / r / rte * * *
India – Traders brace for stock rally R *
Ukraine – EU divided on response to Russian invasion FT / WSJ / FT / AP
Ukraine – Exxon Says Russian Projects Remain on Track WSJ *
ECB – Keeps main rate at record low of 0.25% FT / WSJ / NYT / AP / R / B / WSJ *
BOE – Keeps Benchmark Rate at Record Low FT / WSJ / R / NYT / AP / B
China – Bear Stearns Moment Seen by BofA in Solar Default FT / WSJ / B / WSJ * *
China – At NPC, Proposed Changes Include Bank Deposit Insurance WSJ / B *
China – Shadow Banks Raise Credit Crisis Risks IBD *
Australia – Builds on China demand for property FT / SMH / ABC / Aus * *
Media – Chinese Firm Considers Investing in New Hollywood Production Company WSJ *
Media – Why the music industry’s “fat head” is eating its “long tail” ft * *
Autos – Carmakers fear EM gloom could overshadow EU rebound R *
Stocks – The current froth is driven by revenue FT * * * *
TPP – US staring contest with Japan stretches out pact R / wsj
EU/US – Trade talks face growing hostility, ministers warn R
US/India – New Delhi hardens stance against protectionism ahead of visits R
Metals – EU plans voluntary rules on conflict mineral imports FT
Metals – Nickel benefits from Indonesia export ban FT
Metals – Indonesia May Cut Mineral-Concentrate Export Duty as Standoff With Miners Persists WSJ
Metals – Weaker Yuan Hurts Copper WSJ *
Metals – ‘Stabilizing forces set to prop up the steel sector’ CD *
NatGas – Crisis Pressures US on Exports WSJ / FT / NYT
NatGas – US price at odds with low stocks FT / WSJ * * *
Japan – Wages rise for first time in nearly two years FT / B / wsj / WSJ / WSJ *
Japan – Labor shortage has Tokyo mulling more foreign workers N *
Japan – Abenomics struggles to deliver public works boom R * *
Japan – BOJ Questions Whether Exports Will Recover WSJ
Japan – ‘Financial tourists’ check in and out of stock market FT *
Japan – Bank Taps Appetite for Tokyo Real Estate WSJ *
Obamacare – Health Plans Given Added Two-Year Reprieve WSJ / NYT
Obamacare – Insurers’ Losses May Reach $5.5b in 2015 B
Obamacare – ‘Not-So-Secret War On Private Medicare Plans’ IBD *
The cost of living around the world; Singapore #1 e *
