Bz Nwz




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Japan




---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Q4: GDP Grows More Slowly Than Expected; +2.2% not +3.7% / R / WSJ / NYT / FT / AP / B / WSJ *

Singapore – Q4: GDP Grew More Than Initially Estimated; +2.9% was +2.8% / B

Thailand – 2014: Economy barely grew after protests, coup; +0.7% from +2.9% / AP / AFP / B

Germany – Feb: ZEW investor confidence highest in a year; 53.0 from 48.4 / AP / B / AFP *

US – Feb: NAHB Home-Builder Confidence Dips; 55 from 57 / WSJ / R *



---

MARKETS

Yen – Scoring on Bets Currency Will Fall Gets Harder WSJ / B *



---

ECONOMICS

Japan – Exit from recession lacks momentum FT / FT * *

Japan – Affirms pledge to raise consumption tax in 2017 FT / N / wsj *

Japan – Growth Data Show Signal of Inflation wsj *

Japan – ‘Abenomics’ Seen As ‘Abemarkets’ As Economy Sputters IBD *

Japan – Piketty’s formula may lead to another answer for Abe N *

Japan – May Be Exception to Piketty’s Thesis WSJ / wsj *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY

BOJ – Another round of QE might not be politically popular FT

BOJ – Abenomics architects tighten grip FT

BOJ – A top shareholder of Japanese electronic parts makers N *



---

FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE

Japan – Shrinking living rooms put squeeze on Abenomics FT * *

Japan – Property shares struggle with deflation jitters R / N *

Japan – REITs may have a leg up on property stocks N * *

Japan – Corporate property deals soar to 7-year high N *

Japan – Hotel room rates near pre-2008 level N *

Japan – Tourism Boom Draws Hotel Investors WSJ *



---

SERVICES

Retail – Natural Food Grocers Thrive In A Choppy Stock Market IBD

Retail – Self-Checkout Begins to Take Hold in Japan WSJ *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Port Delays Starting to Damage Businesses WSJ / R / B / NYT / WSJ / WSJ *



---

COMMODITIES

Miners – Dollar’s Rise Papers Over Woes WSJ *

Miners – Margins r *

Miners – Concerns raised as China steel enters ‘peak zone’ FT * *

Miners – Commodity prices go back to basics FT * *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Black Swans on the Horizon WSJ *

Oil – Rigs Are Being Idled, but Boom Is Not Ending B / B *

Oil – Traders celebrate market rout FT * *

Oil – Cushing running out of storage / b *

Oil – Discoveries drop to 20-year low FT *

Oil – Europe’s Companies Get a Boost From Their Refineries WSJ *

Oil – ‘Avoid Exxon, Chevron, Conoco and Royal Dutch’ Bn * *

Oil – BP’s battles leave it vulnerable to major move FT *

Oil – How a $50 drop in prices affects countries / bi *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

Japan – Wage growth key for getting consumers to do the heavy lifting N *



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Countries with a smaller population than Tokyo motw *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Ukraine

Cards – AmEx Is Losing Its Millionaires
Cigs – Toll on Health Worse Than Previously Thought
Pot – Colorado’s legal market: $700m last year, $1b by 2016



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

Germany – Q4: Economy picks up speed; +0.7% from +0.1% / AP / B

France – Q4: Economy in slowdown; +0.1% from +0.3% / DT

Greece – Q4: Economy shrinks; -0.2% from +0.7% / R

EZ – Q4: Growth Exceeds Expectations; +0.3% from +0.2% / FT / R / NYT / WSJ / AP * *

US – Jan: Import prices show biggest drop since 2008; -2.8%, -8.0% yr / WSJ / R *

US – Feb: UMich consumer sentiment falls; 93.6 from 98.1 / R *



---

MARKETS

Bonds – US Treasurys Carry Weight of the World WSJ / FT / FT *

Bonds – EZ junk-rated debt holds its appeal FT * *

Bonds – EM allure fades as US rate rise looms FT * * *

Bonds – China Directive Cuts Into Debt Issuance WSJ *



---

ECONOMICS

EU – Greece bailout talks break down FT / R / WSJ / FT / FT *

EU – Greece Seeks to Make War Reparations Part of Debt Debate WSJ *

EU – ‘Athens Inches Closer to Renewal of Debt Crisis’ S / S * * *

EU – What happens to nation’s companies in the case of a Grexit? FT *

EU – Germany is investing too little—hurting Europe, the world and itself E *

EU – Map of European GDP / wapo *

EU – Purchasing power per capita in Europe, 2014 / motw *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Ukraine – Leaders cautious over ‘Minsk 2’ FT / WSJ / NYT / WSJ *

Ukraine – IMF unveils $17.5b rescue plan FT / B / FT *

Ukraine – Percentage of Ukrainian language schools / motw *

Ukraine – ‘Russia’s aggression part of a broader confrontation’ E / E * *

Ukraine – Russian Asset Sales Muddy Sanction Compliance WSJ

Ukraine – Finland’s capital outflow is Russia-driven R *

Ukraine – Will China Bail Out Russia? cfr *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

Cards – AmEx-Costco Divorce Shakes Up Industry WSJ *

Cards – AmEx Is Losing Its Millionaires B *

Cards – Why New Credit Cards May Fall Short on Fraud Control WSJ *



---

REAL ESTATE

Ag – Farmland Values in Parts of Midwest Fall for First Time in Decades WSJ

Ag – Barbarians at the farm gate E *



---

SERVICES

Cigs – Toll on Health Worse Than Previously Thought NYT / AP

E-Cigs – Declared Health Threat by CA Officials WSJ / AP

E-Cigs – States Dash to Regulate WSJ

E-Cigs – Makers target luxury market FT

E-Cigs – Traditional quitting aids suffer R

Pot – Colorado’s legal market: $700m last year, $1b by 2016 wapo *

Pot – Marijuana Industry in Colorado Eager for Its Own Bank NYT



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




---

COMMODITIES

Gold – Global Demand Down in 2014 WSJ / FT

Aluminum – Chinese Shake Up Metal WSJ *

Tin – Falling Indonesian supply fails to support price r *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

LABOR & EDUCATION




---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Google bigger than Russia’s entire market mw *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Pipelines

UK – Poll predicts Labour wipeout in Scotland
DN – Growth of balance sheet approaching Switerland’s
Space – Many satellites well past their prime



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

EZ – Dec: Industrial Production Stalled; unch, -0.2% yr / WSJ *

US – Jan: Retail sales weak; +0.1% from -0.3% / R / cr *

US – Dec: Business inventories rose slower than expected; +0.1% from +0.8% / R *

US – Week: Jobless Claims Rise; +25k to 304k / WSJ / R / cr *



---

MARKETS

Currencies – Return of investors stalls weak euro trend FT * * *

Currencies – Saxo Bank Takes Hard Line on Clients’ Swiss Franc Losses WSJ *

Currencies – Original sin stalks vulnerable EMs as US dollar surges ft *

Currencies – Real has lost a tenth of its value against the dollar FT *

Currencies – As The Rupee Stands Tall, India Fears Losing the Devaluation Game wsj *

Currencies – What’s driving the Canadian peso? ft *

Currencies – Turkish Lira Sinks to New Low WSJ *

Currencies – US bill would tax ‘manipulators’ FT * *

Currencies – Hedge Funds Get Big Payoff WSJ * *



---

ECONOMICS

World – Developing economies: Taking a load off FT * *

World – Rapidly leveraging up / wapo *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

UK – Poll predicts Labour wipeout in Scotland FT * *

UK – Scotland: Breaking up the estates FT * *



---

MONETARY POLICY

ECB – Breathes sigh of relief over QE FT * * *

ECB – Benefit of Bond Buying: Fiscal Breathing Room WSJ *

ECB – Germany Stands To Be Big Winner of Much-Opposed Stimulus WSJ / t * *

BOE – Signals Interest Rate Rise WSJ / FT / NYT

SR – Riksbank cuts rates to negative FT / WSJ / AP / B

DN – Growth of balance sheet approaching Switerland’s b *

DN – Denmark fiercely defends currency peg FT / WSJ *



---

FINANCE

EU – Risks in eurozone banks’ government links FT *

EU – Banks engineer lower-cost risk capital FT * *



---

REAL ESTATE

Spain – Top Cities Show Signs of Housing Recovery WSJ

Spain – Recovery Has Investors Stocking Up on Malls WSJ *



---

SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING

Space – Many satellites well past their prime e *

Space – ISRO tests its heaviest space launch vehicle, eyes global market R *



---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline – House Passes Keystone Bill WSJ / AP / NYT

Pipeline – EPA Says Keystone Could Spur Emissions NYT / WSJ / R / CBC

Pipeline – Refiners say Keystone is route to independence FT * *

Pipeline – Think twice on cross-border projects, CEO warns FP / r * *

Pipeline – No Keystone, No Problem for Canadian Oil Seeking Ports B

Pipeline – Eastern Canadian LNG export plans face supply quandary R *



---

COMMODITIES




---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – US shale boom masks declining global supply FT

Oil – Drilling Slows as Crude Price Drops WSJ / B / b * * * *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

EU – Companies dig deeper to fill pension holes FT * * *



---

HEALTH

Stocks – M&A helps lift US healthcare stocks FT * *

Stocks – Health-Care Avoids Market Malaise WSJ *



---

ENDNOTE

Atlantic City Streets in Monopoly reddit *

London Streets in UK Monopoly reddit *

Oslo Streets in Norwegian Monopoly reddit *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Biofuels

China – ‘Getting a lid on shadow banking’
Tourism – International travelers hit record 1.13b in 2014
Metals – Southeast Asia’s junkyards a gold mine



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MAJOR DATA POINTS




---

MARKETS

China – Stocks Fall After 2014 Rally WSJ *



---

ECONOMICS

China – Goes on spending spree and double investment in Europe FT * * *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY

PBOC – Monetary policy undergoes big shift FT

PBOC – Drop in Inflation Pressures Central Bank to Expand Credit WSJ / R * *

PBOC – Injects Funds Into Financial System WSJ *



---

FINANCE

China – Banks bulk up in London’s commodity sector FT *

China – ‘Getting a lid on shadow banking’ B *



---

REAL ESTATE

China – Shadows loom over property market after developer’s default N *



---

SERVICES

Tourism – International travelers hit record 1.13b in 2014 N *

Tourism – Record spending spurs race for Chinese R *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH

TVs – Samsung reveals potential for smart sets to eavesdrop AP / B / nyt

TVs – Japanese Makers Retreat From Overseas Markets WSJ *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

China – US Launches New Trade Challenge WSJ / FT / NYT



---

COMMODITIES

Copper – Everywhere, but why now? r * *

Nickel – ‘Still favored upside pick over a two-year time horizon’ r *

Metals – Southeast Asia’s junkyards a gold mine N / N *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Alt – Biofuels: Ethanol Prices Slide Amid Supply Spike FT / WSJ / FT / WSJ *

Alt – Biofuels: ADM Sees Weaker Profit Margins WSJ / R

Alt – Biofuels: Report Urges Western Governments to Reconsider NYT / R

Alt – Biofuels: Aims to compete with petrol on price FT / NYT / NYT

Alt – Biofuels: Airlines Fly the Skies on a Sugar High NYT



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

China – Labor Ties Fray as Economic Growth Slows WSJ *



---

HEALTH

China – Falling Through the Cracks of Health-Care System WSJ *



---

ENDNOTE

Places named after communist heads of state motw *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: US Real Estate

Media – Newspapers continue to sink
US – Left and Right Align in Fighting Obama’s Trade Agenda
Oil – Could plunge to $20: Citigroup



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Jan: Inflation Drops to Five-Year Low; 0.8% from 1.5% / WSJ / X *

China – Jan: Producer prices continue declines; -4.3% from -3.3% / X *

Germany – 2014: Enjoys Record Year for Trade; €1.13t / WSJ *

US – Dec: Wholesale inventories barely rose; +0.1% from +0.8% / R *

US – Dec: JOLTS Jobs Openings Up; 5.0m from 4.8m / cr *



---

MARKETS

Bonds – Show Worries About Eurozone WSJ *

Bonds – Negative Eurozone Yields Becoming New Normal WSJ / q *

Bonds – Africa’s Bonanza Finds Fewer Takers WSJ *



---

ECONOMICS

US – Forecasters see 2% growth wsj * *

US – Has few manufacturers making consumer products WSJ *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY




---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

US – Small Banks Score Gains in Lifting Regulation WSJ

US – Regulations hit smaller banks hardest FT

US – Small Banks Plan New Consumer-Loan Program WSJ *

US – Biggest Banks Lag Behind as Economy Gains Steam WSJ *



---

REAL ESTATE

US – CoStar: Commercial Real Estate prices increase cr *

US – CoreLogic: House Prices up 5.0% cr *

US – Homeownership Rate Falls to 20-Year Low WSJ / wsj *

US – Remodeling Market Has Regained its Mojo wsj *

US – Builders Bet on Strong Spring With Speculative Homes WSJ *

US – Renters Are Majority in Big Cities WSJ *

US – Spec Offices Rise Beyond Manhattan B



---

SERVICES

Media – Newspapers continue to sink cjr *

Media – UK newspaper circulation dives / r *

Media – News organisations ‘go native’ to find new source of ad revenue FT * * *

Media – The Bad News About the News brookings * * *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

TTIP – EU Support for a Free Trade Agreement with the US / pew *

TTP – Talks enter (hurdle-strewn) home stretch N *

TPP – ‘Crucial in shaping Asia’s economic order’ N *

US – Left and Right Align in Fighting Obama’s Trade Agenda NYT



---

COMMODITIES




---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Opec predicts rising demand FT / WSJ / R

Oil – IEA Adds to Chorus of Voices Saying Glut Will Abate WSJ / FT / R

Oil – Producers Stress Surviving $50 WSJ *

Oil – Could plunge to $20: Citigroup B

Oil – Contango puts profit in storage FT * *

Oil – Companies in the Cross Hairs of Libyan Violence WSJ *

Oil – Job Losses Start To Hit the Surprisingly Resilient US Industry wsj * *

Oil – Price war inflicts collateral damage in Latin America r *

Oil – Supplies to China / r *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION




---

HEALTH

Measles – US outbreak spreads to three more states wapo *

Measles – Vaccine Debate Shifts Tone WSJ / WSJ / WSJ *

Measles – States Target Anti-Vaccine Parents B * *

Measles – Spots of resistance FT * *

Measles – How Anti-Vaccination Trends Vex Herd Immunity WSJ *

Measles – Think the US Has a Problem? Look at Europe nbc / 538 *



---

ENDNOTE

Second Street more popular than First Street 538 *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: US Labor

Greece – Greenspan predicts exit from euro inevitable
NY – Foreign Wealth Flows to Elite Residential Towers
Luxury – Shift of Focus to US



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

Japan – Dec: Posts Current Account Surplus; +¥187b (+$2b) / WSJ

China – Jan: Exports fell; -3.3% from +9.7% / R / WSJ / AFP / FT / CD * *



---

MARKETS

Currencies – Central Banks Move to Drive Down Yields Domino Effect WSJ *

Currencies – Hedge Funds Start Placing Bets on UK Election WSJ *

Currencies – The CNY depreciation risk remains ft *

Currencies – US Banks Say Soaring Dollar Puts Them at Disadvantage WSJ

Currencies – Strong dollar vexes US exporters, local demand helps R



---

ECONOMICS




---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Greece – Could Run Out of Cash in Weeks WSJ / FT / NYT / WSJ / FT / WSJ

Greece – Greenspan predicts exit from euro inevitable BBC



---

MONETARY POLICY

Fed – Rate Dilemma: Job Gains vs. Low Inflation WSJ / R

Fed – Inflation Well Short of 2% Target WSJ / wsj *

Fed – Policy comes under question FT * * *

Fed – Employment Data Suggest “Patience” Until 2016—or Later cfr *

Fed – Investors Buy Into Asia, Betting Won’t Raise Rates in 2015 WSJ *



---

FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE

NY – Baccarat Hotel Fetches Record Valuation From Chinese Buyer WSJ

NY – Foreign Wealth Flows to Elite Residential NYT / NYT *



---

SERVICES

Luxury – Shift of Focus to US NYT * *

Luxury – Food the new frontier in Italy FT * * * *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH




---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – West Coast Port Employers Suspend Some Operations WSJ / R / FT

Ships – Bigger Container Boats Pose Bigger Risks WSJ



---

COMMODITIES

Coffee – Gets Boost From Dry Outlook in Brazil WSJ

Coffee – Colombia’s production returns to pre-crisis levels FT * *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Refineries – Union Expands Walk Outs WSJ / R / AP / B

Refineries – New Mideast Facilities Could Stir Up Fuel-Market Dynamics WSJ *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION

US – Job Market Looks Ripe for Liftoff WSJ / FT * *

US – Jobs Report Hints That Wages May Be Starting to Heat Up WSJ *

US – Revisions show 245k more jobs / r *

US – Unemployment edged up to 5.7% as labor force increased / r *

US – UE duration, discouraged workers fall, participation rate edges up / r *

US – Earnings 2.2% rise sluggish, but a pickup / wsj *

US – Job growth in professional services, construction and mining / wsj *

US – Most jobs full-time though 2m below prerecession level / wsj*

US – Jobless Claims Are Even Lower Than They Appear wsj *

US – Workers Still Waiting for Wage Growth wsj *

US – Watching the Employment Cost Index for Wage Growth wsj * *

US – Workweek of production employees in manufacturing BLS *

US – Increasingly Competing With Mexico for Farm Labor WSJ

US – Where most-skilled foreign workers are coming from gp * *

US – Opting Out of Unions Gets Boost in States WSJ *

US – Membership Rate Falls for Unions in 2014 WSJ *

US – Is a college degree more important than it used to be? ft *



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

The Most Common Job In Every State npr *



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---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Nigeria

Mobiles – Chinese makers dialing up online sales
Ship – Locks May Take Decades to Replace
Bees – EU Banned Pesticides to Help, But Now Other Bugs Are Invading



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Jan: Strong job gains open door to mid-year rate hike; +273k from +329k / R / WSJ / FT / NYT / AP / B *



---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Nigeria – A discredited ruling party faces its greatest test yet E * *

Nigeria – Pressure grows for African force to tackle insurgency FT *

Nigeria – ‘On the brink’ ft *

Nigeria – Tough outlook sets stage for tight presidential race FT *

Nigeria – Election tensions raise spectre of break-up R

Nigeria – Banks losing steam FT *

Nigeria – Anatomy of $20b ‘leak’ R *

Congo – ‘Katumbi will decide the election’ FT * * *

Angola – Seeks $1b in loans as oil price falls FT * *

Zambia – Elections come at bad time for economy FT * *

Zambia – Election Extends Mining Dispute WSJ *

Africa – A sub-Saharan scramble E * *

Africa – The twilight of the resource curse? E * * *

Africa – ‘China has become big, now for the backlash’ E *

Africa – Sahara-Sahel: Geography, Economics and Security / oecd *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Greece – Collision with Germany FT / WSJ / NYT / B / R / AP / NYT *

Greece – ECB split points to sensitivity of liquidity curbs FT / WSJ / FT / WSJ / B / B / R *

Greece – ECB’s Squeeze Hampers Bid for Debt Relief WSJ *

Greece – Defense looks weak FT / FT *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE




---

REAL ESTATE




---

SERVICES

Ship – Cruise Lines Navigate Between Strong Dollar, Cheap Oil IBD

Ship – Full steam ahead for China cruise industry CD *



---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH

Mobiles – Samsung vs. Apple: Who Was No. 1? WSJ / wsj * *

Mobiles – It’s Luxury or Rock Bottom WSJ *

Mobiles – New iPhone helping Apple gain foothold in China N *

Mobiles – Lenovo Battling Apple, Xiaomi in China WSJ *

Mobiles – Chinese makers dialing up online sales N *

Mobiles – Samsung Loses Top Spot in India to Micromax WSJ



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Ship – Costly lockout looms on US ports FT / R

Ship – North American Ports Containership Capacity / motw *

Ship – Baltic Dry Freight Index Plummets Amid Commodities Slump WSJ *

Ship – Floating Armories Help Guard Against Pirates WSJ *

Ship – Locks May Take Decades to Replace NYT



---

COMMODITIES

Bees – More keepers Sour on Profession as Winter Die-Offs Continue WSJ

Bees – EU Banned Pesticides to Help, But Now Other Bugs Are Invading B *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – Arctic: Companies put projects into deep freeze FT * *

Oil – Arctic: The geopolitical game heats up FT / E / BBC *

Oil – Majors fail to find reserves to counter falling output R *

Oil – Exports from America are booming E *

Oil – Boom a ‘Game-Changer’ on US Trade Deficit WSJ *



---

LABOR & EDUCATION




---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Most Spoken African language by state slate *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Asian Aviation

Currencies – Pegger thy neighbour
Russia – USSR Alive to Bond Traders for Wrong Reasons
Metals – Iron: Record low ore price forecast looks optimistic



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Dec: Trade deficit largest since 2012; -$47b from -$40b / R / WSJ *

US – Q4: Productivity Falls in Last Months of 2014; -1.8% from +3.7% / WSJ / R *

US – Week: Jobless claims rise less than expected; +11k to 278k / R / WSJ / cr *



---

MARKETS

Currencies – Strong dollar revives old currency angst FT * *

Currencies – Gold, Dollar Buck Trend to Shine Together WSJ * *

Currencies – Pegger thy neighbour e *



---

ECONOMICS

World – Debt mountains spark fears of another crisis FT * *

World – Why Cheaper Oil Doesn’t Always Lead to Economic Growth WSJ *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Russia – Foreign exodus gathers pace FT / bi *

Russia – Creeping awareness that economic crisis will last AP

Russia – USSR Alive to Bond Traders for Wrong Reasons B *

Russia – CDS, bond yield premiums higher than Pakistan R *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

World – Big banks eye peer-to-peer lending push FT * *

World – Mobile phones revolutionise access FT * *

World – Big data homes in on insurance FT

World – Banking on big data FT

World – Botín charts Santander’s digital course FT / FT *

World – Vision for bitcoin is beginning to fade FT *



---

REAL ESTATE




---

SERVICES




---

MANUFACTURING




---

TECH

Net Neutrality – FCC plan upsets providers FT / WSJ / NYT / B / IBD / WSJ * * *



---

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Air – TransAsia: Two Plane Crashes in Seven Months WSJ / WSJ * *

Air – Crowded skies shake up Asia’s industry N *

Air – Chinese and Indian carriers are soaring on investor love N*

Air – Budget players rewriting the rules n *

Air – Spring Air’s surge lures investors R *

Air – Asian Aviation Sector to Benefit From Fuel-Price Plunge WSJ / FT *

Air – Qatar Airways has acquired 10% of IAG FT / WSJ / R / B *



---

COMMODITIES

Metals – Aluminum: China supply could limit gains FT / r *

Metals – Copper: Bearish bets begin to fade FT

Metals – Iron: Keeps Heading Down WSJ *

Metals – Iron: China’s Steel Demand Falls WSJ

Metals – Iron: Record low ore price forecast looks optimistic r *



---

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT




---

LABOR & EDUCATION

World – Unemployment rate by country / motw *



---

HEALTH




---

ENDNOTE

Air Force Roundels of the World reddit *



---




---

Today’s Issue Cluster: Autos

Theme Parks – For French investors, a Euro Disney nightmare
Pork – Over Beef in US for First Time Since 1952
Oil – OPEC leader: Could shoot to $200



---

MAJOR DATA POINTS

China – Jan: HSBC Services Lowest in 6 Months; 51.8 from 53.4 / WSJ *

EZ – Jan: Markit PMI at fastest rate in six months; 52.6 from 51.4 / R *

US – Jan: ISM service sector activity edges up; 56.7 from 56.5 / R / WSJ *

US – Jan: ADP private sector adds workers; +213k from +253k / R / B *



---

MARKETS




---

ECONOMICS

Japan – Abenomics Gets Boost From Rebound Signs WSJ *

Japan – 30% of companies expect double-digit profit growth N *



---

POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

Greece – Leaders Meet With Skeptical Officials WSJ / R / NYT / FT *

Greece – Signals of Compromise Send Markets Soaring WSJ *

Greece – Outlines debt ‘menu’ in bid to win over skeptical EZ R / FT / B *

Greece – ECB resists latest Greek bailout plan FT / FT *

Greece – Who is Still Exposed? / nc *



---

MONETARY POLICY




---

FINANCE

China – Cuts Reserve Requirement Ratio WSJ / FT / NYT / R / AP / WSJ *



---

REAL ESTATE




---

SERVICES

Theme Parks – Wanda challenges Disney FT * * *

Theme Parks – Shanghai Disneyland Opening Pushed to First Half of 2016 WSJ

Theme Parks – For French investors, a Euro Disney nightmare R *



---

MANUFACTURING

Autos – US Sales Surged in January WSJ / FT / NYT / R / AP / B *

Autos – US: Obama tells Americans: Don’t buy a gas guzzler R

Autos – US: Clash Looms Over Fuel Economy Standard WSJ

Autos – US: Ford Can’t Make F-150 Fast Enough B / NYT / WSJ / R

Autos – US: Big Vehicles Put Makers in the Driver’s Seat WSJ / R / NYT *

Autos – US: The rise of fake engine noise WaPo

Autos – US: After a few good years carmakers face a rapid U-turn E *

Autos – US: Best-Selling Vehicles In 2014 statista *

Autos – China: Sales to Slow Further in 2015 FT / WSJ * *

Autos – China: Carmakers face fresh import threat FT / FT / FT

Autos – China: Dealers discover union power FT / B / BW

Autos – China: Ready for a used-car boom N *

Autos – China: Has More Space Than US For New Cars B *

Autos – India: Battle intensifies among Germany’s big 3 N *

Autos – Asean: Sluggish sales seen for 2015 N *

Autos – Asean: Indonesia set to take regional crown R *

Autos – Australia: Carmakers hit the skids FT *

Autos – Mexico: Sets Production Record, Aims for More WSJ

Autos – EU: Sales rise for first time in six years FT / WSJ / B / AFP

Autos – EU: Luxury market is doing well FT *

Autos – EU: Ford faces uphill struggle to turn round losses FT * *

Autos – Russia: Ford and GM reveal impact of downturn FT

Autos – Russia: Hyundai Motor sees currency risks persisting R *

Autos – Datsun: Sputters in Early Going WSJ *

Autos – Nissan: Redesigns Pickup to Challenge Detroit WSJ *

Autos – VW: Readies Plans for New SUVs WSJ *

Autos – Parts: Gas Prices, Longer-Lived Cars Lift Stocks IBD

Autos – Luxury: Sales Hit Record Levels in 2014 WSJ / R



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TECH




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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION




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COMMODITIES

Pork – Over Beef in US for First Time Since 1952 B

Beef – USDA Shows First Increase in Size of US Cattle Herd in 8 Years WSJ



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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Oil – As Prices Climb, Some Harbor Doubts WSJ * *

Oil – BP chief warns of industry slump FT / WSJ * *

Oil – OPEC leader: Could shoot to $200 CNN *

Oil – China’s Energy Companies Tighten Their Belts as Prices Plunge WSJ *



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LABOR & EDUCATION




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HEALTH




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ENDNOTE

Fox News Leans Democratic danfrank *



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Today’s Issue Cluster: Railroads

China – Debts owed by nonfinancial sector have soared
Uber – Google Is Developing Its Own Competitor
Sands – Lower Oil Prices Strike at Heart of Production



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MAJOR DATA POINTS

US – Dec: Factory orders fall sharply; -3.4% from -1.7% / R / AP



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MARKETS

Stocks – Spain feels the nervous ripples over Greece FT *

Stocks – EMs Stage Surprising Revival WSJ *

Stocks – Small-Caps Gain as Large-Caps Falter WSJ *

Stocks – QE boost for eurozone shares cannot last FT * *

Stocks – Shanghai, HK shares fall with probe into margin trading R * *

Stocks – China market cap as % global total regains 2007 peak / b *



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ECONOMICS

China – Weak Data Renew Push for Growth Measures WSJ / WSJ *

China – Trumps US for Foreign Investment WSJ *

China – Provinces undershoot GDP targets FT *

China – 2014 Revenue Grows at Slowest Pace in Years WSJ

China – Debts owed by nonfinancial sector have soared ft *

China – ‘Overborrowed and overbuilt’ FT * * * * * *

China – The problem with pervasive implicit state guarantees ft *

China – Debt That Once Boosted Now Burdens WSJ *



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POLITICS & FISCAL POLICY

China – Great Firewall Gets Taller WSJ

China – ‘Western values’ forbidden in universities FT



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MONETARY POLICY

RBA – Cuts rates to fresh low of 2.25% WSJ / SMH / ABC / Aus / FT *

RBA – Stumbling Australian dollar has room to fall FT * *



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FINANCE

China – Shadow bank regulation shows results FT *



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REAL ESTATE

China – Home prices break falling streak AFP



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SERVICES

Uber – Google Is Developing Its Own Competitor B

Uber – May be making its own self-driving cars FT / wsj / cnet



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MANUFACTURING




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TECH

Net Neutrality – FCC to Propose Strong Rules WSJ / NYT



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TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

Rail – Roads Steam Toward Big Gains WSJ / WSJ

Rail – US oil car market collapses as foreign crude makes comeback R / B / B * *

Rail – Roads reduce shipping load on drop in oil prices G&M *

Rail – Grain shipping firms face railway backlog, deteriorating service CP / WSJ



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COMMODITIES

Crops – GMO-Free: Prove Lucrative for Farmers WSJ *

Crops – Biotech: Seed Makers Try to Defuse Trade Uncertainties WSJ *



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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Sands – Lower Oil Prices Strike at Heart of Production NYT



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LABOR & EDUCATION




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HEALTH




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ENDNOTE

See What the Artworks See hyper * * *



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