What I Am Reading

February 28 (Monday) Latest Morning Briefing Executive Summary: ‘Stop the World— I Want To Get Off!’ “Buy to the sound of cannons, sell to the sound of trumpets.” That advice worked on Thursday as Russia invaded Ukraine. What about that shocking day reassured investors enough to drive the stock market up? We take a look. … Also working that day was the Bull-Bear Ratio’s contrarian buy signal. … Economically, the war may bring heightened global inflation, more supply-chain disruptions, and possibly higher energy prices. For the US economy, stagflation could result, but we still don’t expect a recession. … And: Is madman Putin’s plan already doomed? … Finally, Dr. Ed reviews “CODA” (+). (subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 22. Markets Wall St Week Ahead Some investors wary of ‘buying the dip’ as Ukraine, Fed gyrate stocks | R Ukraine Crisis Upends Investing Playbook for 2022 | W Investors Bet Oil Still Has Room to Run After Touching $100 | W Ukraine conflict – Russia Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threat shows how much is going wrong for him in Ukraine | E History will judge Vladimir Putin harshly for his war | E EU says it will fund arms deliveries to Ukraine and hit Russia with new sanctions | C How new sanctions could cripple Russia’s economy | E Western businesses cut some Russia ties over Ukraine invasion | R Norway says its sovereign fund will divest from Russia | R EU, UK, Canada, US pledge to remove selected Russian banks from SWIFT | C The antisemitism animating Putin’s claim to ‘denazify’ Ukraine | The Guardian Ukraine conflict – Energy West Still Reluctant to Target Russia Energy on Economy Fear | B Russia Sanctions Over Ukraine Largely Spare Energy Sector, Vital to Europe | W Russia Sends Natural-Gas Tankers to Kaliningrad Outpost Behind NATO Lines | W BP offloads its nearly 20% stake in Russia’s Rosneft | C If the supply of Russian gas to Europe were cut off, could LNG plug the gap? | E Ukraine conflict – Ukraine ‘Stiff Ukrainian resistance’ continues to hamper Russian troops | C How Volodymyr Zelensky found his roar | E Ordinary Ukrainians Rally to Defend Homeland From Russia | W Ukrainian cities are suffering internet blackouts | E World Bank may be able to disburse Ukraine aid funds in days -Malpass | R Ukraine conflict – China Xi Jinping drew closer to Russia on the eve of war in Ukraine | E Global Despite bulging debt everywhere, the IMF is struggling to be helpful | E Ukraine Conflict Could Strengthen Brazil and Other Emerging Markets | BR US Inflation and Interest-Rate Increases Will Be Higher Than Investors Think, Says This Fund Manager | BR High Food Prices to Pressure Inflation This Year | W CPAC: Trump Criticizes Biden on Ukraine, Hints at 2024 White House Bid | W   Europe For Europe, Russia Sanctions Will Sting | W Scholz: Germany pledges defense spending increase in shift in strategy | C Germany to Raise Defense Spending Above 2% of GDP in Response to Ukraine War | W Industries & companies Autos: A New Brand of Sticker Shock Hits the Car Market | W Pharma: Covid-19 Vaccine Makers Face a New Rival as GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Prepare to Enter the Ring | BR Technology The world should welcome the rise of the robots | E Virus Hong Kong’s refusal to live with covid-19 is causing chaos | E Are some countries faking their covid-19 death counts? | E Why Is Everyone Standing So Close? Personal-Space Boundaries Shifted During the Pandemic. | W

February 26 (Saturday) Latest Morning Briefing Executive Summary: Sentiment, Industrials, and Crispr Stock market bearishness is increasing, which is bullish from a contrarian perspective. The Bull/Bear Ratio has dropped close to levels that have heralded great buying opportunities in the past. That doesn’t preclude further stock market declines, but it does suggest that bargain buying for the long term makes sense. … A confluence of trends points to boom times for manufacturing industries and the businesses that support them. Some of these trends are industry specific, some apply to manufacturing broadly. … Also: a look at exciting new medical applications for disruptive technology Crispr. (subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 22. Markets Dow climbs 800 points in best day since 2020, investors weigh Russia-Ukraine | C U.S. Stocks Rally to Finish Turbulent Week | W With market’s snapback, focus shifts to Powell testimony, jobs report | C How Geopolitics Impacts Markets (1941-2021) | The Big Picture Global Ukraine War Means Another Supply Shock to Global Economy, the Last Thing It Needs | W Central banks Fed’s Preferred Inflation Measure Reaches Fastest Pace Since 1983 | W Energy U.S. Energy Independence Is Shaken by Russia-Ukraine Crisis | N Putin Is Having Easier Crisis This Time Thanks to Oil, Reserves | B How fracking was killed by Green lies and Russian propaganda | thecritic.co.uk US U.S. Consumer Spending Rose 2.1% in January and Inflation Accelerated Amid Omicron Wave | W This key unemployment measure hasn’t been this low since 1970 | NN Opinion | With Inflation High, People Are Talking About Price Controls. Is That a Terrible Idea? | N ‘Unretirements’ are picking up, and that’s good for the economy | axios.com Biden nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to be next Supreme Court justice | C Geopolitics & trade How the West Misread Vladimir Putin | W How Germany helped blaze Putin’s path into Ukraine | PO Russian Forces Close In on Ukraine’s Capital as Kyiv Prepares to Fight | W Russia Vetoes UN Resolution as China Abstains: Ukraine Update | B Russia media regulator moves to partially restrict Facebook access | C U.S. to impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin and top aide, White House says | C   Industries & companies Autos: Ford Plans to Pause F-150 Production at Missouri Plant Next Week | W Media: Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser review: Let loose and play | C Pharma: Pfizer, Moderna and Other Drugmakers Make Billions Responding to Covid-19 Pandemic | W Virus Covid: Transmissibility, severity, reinfection of Omicron BA.2 subvariant | C U.S. eases COVID indoor mask guidelines for most of country | R   Beyond markets Tokens.com CEO buys $2 million worth of land in Decentraland | C

February 25 (Friday) Latest Morning Briefing Executive Summary: Sentiment, Industrials, and Crispr Stock market bearishness is increasing, which is bullish from a contrarian perspective. The Bull/Bear Ratio has dropped close to levels that have heralded great buying opportunities in the past. That doesn’t preclude further stock market declines, but it does suggest that bargain buying for the long term makes sense. … A confluence of trends points to boom times for manufacturing industries and the businesses that support them. Some of these trends are industry specific, some apply to manufacturing broadly. … Also: a look at exciting new medical applications for disruptive technology Crispr. (subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 22. Markets Stocks and Energy Markets Whipsaw After Russian Attack on Ukraine | N How the Russia-Ukraine Crisis Is Shaking Markets and Portfolios | N What Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Means for Investors | W Oil-Price Surge Threatens U.S. Growth | W China Crackdown Leaves Bond Investors With Few Places to Hide | B U.S. bonds: 10-year Treasury yield cuts losses but still below 2% | C Central banks Federal Reserve Isn’t Likely to Change Course After Ukraine Invasion | N Global Russian Invasion Scrambles Prospects for Global Economy | W US U.S. Jobless Claims Fall Amid Tight Labor Market | W Grocery prices keep rising but CEOs say shoppers are still buying | C White House Lays Out Broad Changes to Address Supply-Chain Shortfalls | W Inflation Threatens to Erode Impact of $1 Trillion Infrastructure Law | W   Geopolitics & trade I Russia Invades Ukraine, Aims to Oust Zelensky Government | W Russia’s Strike Changes Not Just Ukraine but the World | W Ukraine Invasion Is Putin’s Most Aggressive Move Yet to Restore Russia’s Place in the World | W War on Ukraine Ends Europe’s Dream of Russia as a Friend | W Why Europe depends on Russia for natural gas | C Russia Just Seized Chernobyl. Here’s Why It Matters. | Mother Jones Geopolitics & trade II Biden vows wider sanctions on Russia in effort to cut Moscow off from the global economy | C U.S., Allies Roll Out Fresh Sanctions on Russia Amid Debate Over How Hard to Hit | W Russia Could Use Cryptocurrency to Mitigate U.S. Sanctions | N Bitcoin donations to Ukrainian military soar as Russia invades | C China Nods to Russia’s Interests in Attack on Ukraine | W China refuses to call attack on Ukraine an ‘invasion,’ blames U.S. | C Industries & companies Media: Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, other streaming services: Subs, ARPU, Q4 2021 | C Media: Google (GOOGL) Faces Sanctions Dilemma With Pro-Russia YouTube Channels | B Media: Fed Up With Google, Conspiracy Theorists Turn to DuckDuckGo | N Corporate finance Justice Department Sues to Block UnitedHealth’s Planned Buy of Change Healthcare | W Beyond markets Big Tech Makes a Big Bet: Offices Are Still the Future | N

February 24 (Thursday) Latest Morning Briefing Executive Summary: Sentiment, Industrials, and Crispr Stock market bearishness is increasing, which is bullish from a contrarian perspective. The Bull/Bear Ratio has dropped close to levels that have heralded great buying opportunities in the past. That doesn’t preclude further stock market declines, but it does suggest that bargain buying for the long term makes sense. … A confluence of trends points to boom times for manufacturing industries and the businesses that support them. Some of these trends are industry specific, some apply to manufacturing broadly. … Also: a look at exciting new medical applications for disruptive technology Crispr. (subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 22. Markets U.S. Stocks Extend Slide Over Ukraine Concerns | W Equities tumble and U.S. dollar rises as Russia/ Ukraine fears escalate | R Russia-Ukraine Crisis Troubles the Stock Market | N Central banks The market has adjusted its views of how the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates | C The Case Against Fed Gradualism by Willem H. Buiter | Project Syndicate US What Russia’s Conflict in Ukraine Means for the U.S. Economy | N Some Companies Ditch Annual Raises and Review Worker Pay More Often | W Europe With Nord Stream 2 Freeze, Germany Takes First Step to Cut Russian Gas Reliance | W Geopolitics & trade Ukraine Crisis Kicks Off New Superpower Struggle Among U.S., Russia and China | W Ukraine separatists seek Russian help as U.S. says attack is ready | R Ukraine President Urges Russian Citizens to Oppose War as Invasion Warnings Mount | W Cyberattack hits Ukrainian banks and government websites | C U.S., Europe Ramp Up Sanctions on Russia, Plan More in Case of Military Escalation | W Russia’s Moves in Ukraine Put Another Foreign-Policy Crisis at Center of Biden’s Agenda | W Virus The C.D.C. Isn’t Publishing Large Portions of the Covid Data It Collects | N Masks in Schools: Districts Get Caught Between Health Authorities and Parent Pushback | W

February 23 (Wednesday) Latest Morning Briefing Executive Summary: Inflating Fundamentals vs Deflating Valuations. The Ukraine crisis has triggered the stock market’s 74th panic attack of this bull market, by our count. Coming on the heels of the 73rd panic attack, the two together qualify as a correction. Could it become a bear market? Perhaps if much higher oil and gas prices result from the crisis, but that’s hard to conclude. What we do expect over the near term is more of the same sideways trading with volatile swings. Notably, however, geopolitical crises have often been buying opportunities for stock investors. … And while valuations have been deflating lately, fundamentals—revenues, earnings, and profit margins—have been inflating dramatically. … Also: What members of the “Federal Open Mouth Committee” have been saying about the course of monetary policy. (subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 22. Markets S&P 500 closes in correction territory, Dow drops 480 points as Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies | C Rising Rates Hit Munis | W Oil Prices Approach $100 a Barrel on Threat of Russia-Ukraine War | W New England Power Plants Burn Most Oil Since 2011 as Gas Soars | B Central banks Russia’s Ukraine incursion could cloud the Federal Reserve rate moves | C US Economy Gained Momentum in February Despite Inflation Worries | W Home-Price Growth Hit Record in 2021 | W Interest Rates Are Rising. What If You Want a House? | N Commercial Real Estate Is Seen as an Inflation Hedge, but That Isn’t Always the Case | W China China Fights Latest Debt Crisis With Firm That Caused Last One | B Geopolitics & trade IEA Says Monitoring Russian Statements ‘With Growing Concern’ | B Biden sends troops to Baltics, F-35s to NATO’s eastern flank -U.S. official | R Biden says U.S. will sanction Russian financial firms, sovereign debt and individuals after Ukraine incursion | C EXCLUSIVE Punishing Putin: How Biden could cut Russia off from world tech | R Ukrainian president drafts reservists but rules out general mobilisation for now | R EU agrees sanctions ‘to hurt Russia’ over Ukraine crisis | R Industries & companies Autos: The chip shortage is so bad GM dropped heated seats in winter | C Consumer discretionary: Amazon sues alleged fake-review brokers AppSally and Rebatest | C Virus Covid infections plummet 90% from U.S. pandemic high, states lift mask mandates | C

February 22 (Tuesday) Latest Morning Briefing Executive Summary: Pieces of the Economic Puzzle. Are consumers more depressed about inflation or more optimistic about employment? Our Consumer Optimism Index, which captures both trends, stands well below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting the former. In fact, January’s strong retail sales may reflect inflation-driven behavior, i.e., the inclination to buy in advance of price rises. … We also examine what’s happening behind the data for industrial production, inventories, transportation, construction, capital spending, and trade. … And: What’s the Fed’s take on the inflation problem? Officials have abandoned the term “transitory” but apparently not the hope. We have only one word for that: “delusional.” (subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 14. Markets Frackers Push Into Once-Dead Shale Patches as Oil Nears $100 a Barrel | W Central banks Fed Official Leaves Door Open to Larger Rate Increase in March | W Global Inflation is surging, and corporate pricing is, too – Vox US The Inflation Mess and a Financial Refuge | W Worried About Inflation and Supply Constraints? Try Being a Small Business. | W Jenny Schuetz on Fixer-Upper, a plan to solve America’s many housing crises. | Slate Geopolitics & trade Putin orders forces into rebel eastern Ukrainian regions after decree | C Biden orders sanctions on rebel areas of Ukraine after Putin decree | C Putin’s Endgame: Unravel the Post-Cold War Agreements That Humiliated Russia | W Canada’s parliament approves Trudeau’s emergency powers | R In Eastern Ukraine, Life Under Shelling by Russian-Backed Forces Becomes Untenable for Many | W Virus Covid: UK to roll out additional vaccine shot for over 75s, vulnerable people | C Beyond markets Larry Fink as Wall St. Dr. Evil?: ‘Woke’ within reason | P 75% of people want single-use plastics banned, global survey finds | R

February 21 (Monday) Latest Morning Briefing: Executive Summary. Insurance, Tech & EVs. Visions of higher interest rates to come are stoking investors’ optimism about prospects for financial services companies, fueling the S&P 500 Financials sector’s impressive ytd outperformance. Within the sector, the insurance industry has been faring well by both earnings and share-price measures as pricing power and strong investment returns have helped to offset higher costs and losses. … Also: Washington has guns out for Big Tech; we recap recent regulatory and (bipartisan!) legislative initiatives afoot. … And we survey the playing field for electric vehicles after their starring roles in Super Bowl ads.(subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 14. Markets Stock Market’s Next Move Is Lower. It’s Not Just Russia and the Fed. | BR Stocks fall, bonds rise on Ukraine tensions | R Rising Treasury Yields Are Diminishing the Appeal of Dividend Stocks | BR Europe Looks Beyond Russia for Natural Gas. These Companies May Benefit. | BR Russia-Ukraine Tensions Power Gold to Eight-Month Highs | W Central banks Ukraine and Inflation Are Wild Cards as Western Central Banks Look to Reset Policy | BR The Fed Is Scrambling to Tame Inflation While Avoiding a Recession | BR How the Fed Will Reduce Its Balance Sheet: Slow and Steady | BR Fed chief Powell to give policy update to Congress in early March | R   US Fiscal Stimulus Is Turning Into a Fiscal Drag, in a Big Headwind for Growth | W How states are using, and misusing, funds from the American Rescue Plan | E Europe Germany’s plans for wind power are dauntingly ambitious | E China China’s Latest Default Warning Takes Shock Factor to Extreme | B Geopolitics & trade NATO’s chief says Russia could invade Ukraine ‘without any warning’ | C Russia Extends Belarus Drills for Thousands of Troops as Ukraine Violence Escalates | W Alexander Gabuev writes from Moscow on why Vladimir Putin and his entourage want war | E Whether he invades Ukraine or backs down, Putin has harmed Russia | E Why Russia has never accepted Ukrainian independence | E Ukraine’s second city braces for war. Sort of | E Ukraine braces for cyber invasion | E China wants to insulate itself against Western sanctions | E Industries & companies Consumer discretionary: Amazon’s sprawling grocery business has become an ‘expensive hobby’ | C Pharma: Covid-19 Pill Access at Risk as Pharmacies Push for Bigger Payments | W Tech: Why Apple, Amazon and Google Are Uniting on Smart-Home Tech: Matter Explained | W Tech: Apple Finds Itself Under Scrutiny in Washington’s Big Tech Clampdown | W   Beyond markets Beijing Winter Olympics End With Record Gold Haul for China | B The true cost of empty offices | E Thanks to Remote Work, Many in Gen Z May Never Work in an Office. Will It Matter? | W Massive Credit Suisse leak reportedly reveals possible criminal ties among 18,000 accounts | C

February 19 (Saturday) Latest Morning Briefing: Executive Summary. Insurance, Tech & EVs. Visions of higher interest rates to come are stoking investors’ optimism about prospects for financial services companies, fueling the S&P 500 Financials sector’s impressive ytd outperformance. Within the sector, the insurance industry has been faring well by both earnings and share-price measures as pricing power and strong investment returns have helped to offset higher costs and losses. … Also: Washington has guns out for Big Tech; we recap recent regulatory and (bipartisan!) legislative initiatives afoot. … And we survey the playing field for electric vehicles after their starring roles in Super Bowl ads.(subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 14. Markets Dow sheds more than 200 points as Russia-Ukraine tensions roil markets | C Stocks fall, bonds rise on Ukraine tensions | R Central banks Fed will hike rates regardless if Biden’s nominees are confirmed, economists say | C Fed Officials Lean Against Expectations of Half-Point Increase in March | W Fed chief Powell to give policy update to Congress in early March | R Fed approves rules banning its officials from trading stocks, bonds and also cryptocurrencies | C US U.S. Home Sales Jumped 6.7% in January Amid Record-Low Inventory | W Biden Shifts Inflation Message to Show He Feels Americans’ Pain | W Geopolitics & trade U.S. Warns of Imminent Russian Invasion of Ukraine With Tanks, Jet Fighters, Cyberattacks | W Biden believes Putin has decided to attack Ukraine in coming days | C We spoke to 7 ex-CIA and Pentagon experts. Here’s what they say Putin wants in Ukraine. | ampproject.org   Virus Another Potential Covid-19 Lab Leak Clue | W Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine for Kids Isn’t Working Well Against Omicron So Far, Delaying FDA Review | W Beyond markets ‘Earthships’: off-the-grid homes made of recycled garbage | C

February 18 (Friday) Latest Morning Briefing: Executive Summary. Insurance, Tech & EVs. Visions of higher interest rates to come are stoking investors’ optimism about prospects for financial services companies, fueling the S&P 500 Financials sector’s impressive ytd outperformance. Within the sector, the insurance industry has been faring well by both earnings and share-price measures as pricing power and strong investment returns have helped to offset higher costs and losses. … Also: Washington has guns out for Big Tech; we recap recent regulatory and (bipartisan!) legislative initiatives afoot. … And we survey the playing field for electric vehicles after their starring roles in Super Bowl ads.(subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 14. Markets Dow Falls More Than 600 Points, Its Worst Day of 2022 | W Gold jumps, stocks slide on Ukraine tensions mount | R If Russia Hurts Wall Street, Don’t Expect Fed Help | W Energy Oil Prices: How the World Went From -$40 to Nearly $100 For Crude Oil | B Europe’s Energy Crisis Pays Off for U.S. Natural-Gas Sellers, Global Traders | W EU Plans Gas Storage Push to Avoid Crisis Next Winter After Record Energy Prices | B EU Eyes Bolstering Carbon Market Transparency as Prices Surge | B Central banks Mester Backs Faster Fed Interest Rate-Hike Pace If Needed to Tame Prices | B Fed Traders Have Dialed Back Bets on a Supersized March Interest Rate Hike | B What could drive the Fed to a ‘Plan B’ for balance sheet reduction | R Why Republicans Stalled Raskin’s Bid for Top Fed Post: Climate Views, Business Ties | W Joe Manchin Remains Undecided on Biden’s Fed Nominees | B US Pay raises but higher prices: How inflation is affecting workers’ paychecks | Vox Opinion: Why inflation is about to peak | NN Inflation Should Moderate in Coming Months, White House Economist Says | W Mortgage Rates Close In on 4%, Making Home Affordability Tougher | W Americans Are Emerging From the Pandemic Ready to Splurge on Events and Travel | W China Baidu, Other Chinese Tech Names May Join Hang Seng in Reshuffle | B Geopolitics & trade Ukraine shelling renews invasion fears as Russia expels U.S. diplomat | R Ukraine crisis: Blinken makes dramatic bid at UN to prevent Russian invasion | C How Well Could Russia’s Economy Withstand Sanctions? | W China Is South America’s Top Trading Partner. Why Can’t the US Keep Up? | B Industries & companies Autos: Ford’s Mustang Mach-E tops Tesla’s Model 3 in Consumer Reports list | C Retail: Walmart says shoppers are on alert as grocery bills climb | C Virus California lays out plan to live with Covid for the long-term, fight future surges and new variants | C Will Adults Need a Fourth Dose of Covid Vaccine? It’s Too Soon to Know. | N

February 17 (Thursday) Latest Morning Briefing: Executive Summary. Insurance, Tech & EVs. Visions of higher interest rates to come are stoking investors’ optimism about prospects for financial services companies, fueling the S&P 500 Financials sector’s impressive ytd outperformance. Within the sector, the insurance industry has been faring well by both earnings and share-price measures as pricing power and strong investment returns have helped to offset higher costs and losses. … Also: Washington has guns out for Big Tech; we recap recent regulatory and (bipartisan!) legislative initiatives afoot. … And we survey the playing field for electric vehicles after their starring roles in Super Bowl ads.(subscribers’ link) YRI Daily Markets Overview See subscribers’ link below for today’s Morning Briefing. Replay of Dr. Ed’s webinar on February 14. Markets Stocks Pare Losses After Fed Minutes | W China Tech Stocks Outlook Improves Year After $1.5 Trillion Rout | B Energy Pioneer Pledges to Hold U.S. Shale Output Near Flat in 2022 | B Putin’s threats against Ukraine could reinvigorate the U.S. oil and gas industry | C Central banks Fed Eyeing Potential for Faster Rate Increases to Ease Inflation | W Minutes show Fed ready to raise rates, shrink balance sheet soon | C Readout of January meeting shows Fed not wed to particular pace of rate hikes | R Pimco Sours on Chinese Sovereign Debt as Policy Splits From Fed | B Raising Rates in Europe Isn’t as Simple as It Sounds | W US U.S. Retail Sales Jump as Inflation Surges | W China China courts freeze $157 mln of Evergrande assets over missed construction payments | R Geopolitics & trade Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine is growing, not shrinking, warns West | C Russia adds 7,000 troops to Ukraine border, despite claims it would withdraw some forces, U.S. says | C How a Russia-Ukraine conflict could impact the economy and markets | The Hill Industries & companies Communications services: Google plans privacy change similar to Apple’s, which wiped $230 billion off Facebook’s market cap | C Corporate finance Permian Driller Colgate Explores $5 Billion Sale Crypto Crypto Firms Including Coinbase, Gemini Work Together to Meet U.S. Money-Laundering Rule | B Can Bitcoin Be a National Currency? El Salvador Is Trying to Find Out. | W Virus U.S. officials prepare for pandemic’s next phase as Omicron wanes | R CDC wants to give people a break from wearing masks as pandemic improves, director says | C Climate Study finds Western megadrought is the worst in 1,200 years | NPR The Arctic could see ice-free summers by 2035, reshaping global shipping routes | C Beyond markets Grief-stricken pet owners usher in Instagram and TikTok’s new influencers: Their cloned cats and dogs | C