What I Am Reading

May 21 (Friday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets What Commodities Prices Are Saying About Inflation | W Central banks Fed to Publish Paper on Digital Currency This Summer | W US I U.S. proposes global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%, with an eye on something even higher | C Biden orders climate change risk strategy to economy | C Behind on your rent? There’s a $45 billion pot of money for that | C US II Who’s afraid of inflation? | Washington Examiner Real-Estate Frenzy Overwhelms Small-Town America: ‘I Came Home Crying’ | W As Amazon, McDonald’s Raise Wages, Small Businesses Struggle to Keep Up | W The Pandemic Created a Child-Care Crisis. Mothers Bore the Burden. | N China Divorces fall 70% in China after government orders couples to cool off | NN Geopolitics & trade Israel and Hamas agree to cease-fire over Gaza conflict | C Industries & companies Energy: The U.S. Is Not Ready For An All-Electric Future | OilPrice.com Industrials: Deere investments look ‘transformational,’ investor says ahead of earnings | C Corporate finance Kansas City Southern Expected to Terminate Canadian Pacific Deal | W Cryptocurrency U.S. regulators signal stronger risk, tax oversight for cryptocurrencies | R Bitcoin Price Bounces After Cryptocurrency Crash Shocks Market | W Virus CDC mask guidelines could increase risk of spreading Covid at work and in public, scientists say | C Iowa Bans Face-Mask Mandates in Schools, Joining Texas | W   Offbeat Drones Flying Near Airports, Infrastructure Prompt U.S. Action | W

May 20 (Thursday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Markets Decline Globally, and Fed Hints at a Policy Review | W Central banks The Fed hinted it could reconsider easy policies if economy continues rapid improvement | C Fed Officials Signal Open to Taper Talk at ‘Upcoming Meetings’ | B Fed Signals Eventual Shift From Easy-Money Pandemic Policies | W Fed Officials Voice Support for New Tool to Smooth Market Stress, Minutes Show | W US America Is on a Road to a Better Economy. But Better for Whom? | N The U.S. Travel Surge Isn’t Coming—It’s Here | W House Republicans introduce $400 billion transportation bill | C Taxes will likely rise for wealthy regardless of President Biden’s plans | C Japan For some of Japan’s lonely workers, COVID-19 brings a homecoming | R Geopolitics & trade Asia Covid surges could hit supply chains, raise U.S. inflation: Expert | C Israel Pressured by Biden, Mideast Allies to End Fighting | W   Industries & companies Autos: Ford to halt production of F-150, Bronco Sport due to chip shortage | C Fitness: Equinox says CDC’s new mask guidance sparked surge in member sign-ups | C Retail: Target, TJX Sales Surge as Shoppers Return | W Tech: Apple’s head of software says current level of Mac malware is not acceptable | C Tech: Cisco (CSCO) earnings Q3 2021 | C   Corporate finance Embattled Chinese Property Tycoon Turns to Electric Cars. Cue $87 Billion Valuation. | W Oatly $1.4 billion IPO priced 84.4 million shares at $17 each | C Cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, & climate Colonial Pipeline CEO Tells Why He Paid Hackers a $4.4 Million Ransom | W The crypto collapse: Here’s what’s behind bitcoin’s sudden drop | C How Green Is Wall Street? Ranking Banks by Funding Oil, Coal, Renewables | B Virus India’s Covid-19 Daily Death Toll Hits World’s High | W Covid-19 Shots for Teens Can Hit Legal Snags and Parental Pushback | W

May 19 (Wednesday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Stocks Fall as Shares Tied to Economy Retreat | W US Home construction sees biggest drop since pandemic hit. Here’s why | C Surging lumber prices weigh on U.S. homebuilding | R Early loss of extra unemployment benefits leaves many families in a panic | C Inflation’s Magic Number Is Four | W Biden, Yellen Seek Backing for $2.3 Trillion Infrastructure Package | W Senate Republicans do not offer Biden officials new infrastructure plan | R China China’s Biggest ‘Bad Bank’ Tests Beijing’s Resolve on Financial Reform | N   Japan Japan’s Recovery From Pandemic Slows | W Geopolitics & trade Gaza Deaths Mount as Israel Says Hamas Leaders Are Its Target | W Industries & companies Autos: Ford reveals new electric F-150 Lightning pickup during Biden’s visit to Michigan plant | C Energy: Colonial Pipeline Hack Shows Risk to US Energy Independence | N Financials: U.S. Bank Stocks Shine as Investors Bet on an Economic Recovery | W Financials: Bank of America to Raise U.S. Minimum Hourly Wage to $25 by 2025 | W Financials: JPMorgan Chase Puts CEO Contenders in Charge of Consumer Operation | W Retail: Walmart Sales Growth Helped by Stimulus | W Retail: Walmart is doubling down on ‘rollbacks’ as inflation pushes prices higher | C Retail: Home Depot Sales Surge, Extending Growth During Covid-19 Pandemic | W Virus Covid’s Next Challenge: The Growing Divide Between Rich and Poor Economies | W Why Covid-19 Vaccines Are Showing Up in Unusual Places | W Top FDA official says fully vaccinated people could need Covid booster shots within a year | C Texas Gov. Abbott threatens to fine cities and local officials if they impose mask mandates | C Corporate finance The WarnerMedia-Discovery deal was structured to make a future sale easier | C Oatly, a Maker of Oat Milk, Is About to Have Its IPO | N Cryptocurrency Cryptocurrencies are close to reaching a big milestone versus gold by one Wall Street firm’s count | C

May 18 (Tuesday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Wall St weighed down by inflation jitters | R Dow dips 50 points to start the week as tech weakness continues | C U.S. Stocks Finish Lower to Start the Week | W Despite Lumber Boom, Few New Sawmills Coming | W Central banks Fed’s Kaplan says inflation readings could remain elevated at year end | R US I Pandemic Hit Less-Educated Workers Hardest, Fed Survey Shows | W U.S. Senate Republicans readying new infrastructure proposal | R Child Tax Credit Expansion Kicks In July 15 With Monthly Payments to Families | W US II How to Navigate a Hot Housing Market | N Renting vs. Buying a Home: Which Is Smarter? | US News White House releases the Bidens’ tax return, showing their income dropped | C Pro-tax millionaires launching protests in front of Jeff Bezos’ home | C Europe EU eyes another go at more unified European business taxation | R China China’s Economic Recovery Slowed in April | W Geopolitics & trade After Gaza’s Deadliest Day, Israel Says It Is Targeting Hamas Tunnels | W Biden tells Netanyahu U.S. supports ceasefire as Israel, Hamas conflict escalates | C Industries & companies Financials: Credit Suisse Faces Banker Talent Drain After $5.5 Billion Archegos Hit | W Media: WarnerMedia-Discovery deal pressures ViacomCBS and NBCUniversal | C Virus I WHO: Pandemic far from over despite vaccinations | C Covid-19 Hospital Patients Tend to Be Younger Now | W A New Covid-19 Vaccine Challenge: Persuading Hesitant Parents to Get Their Kids the Shots | W U.S. Commits to Exporting More Covid-19 Vaccines by End of June | W Virus II Do Vaccinated People Have to Wear Masks in NY? No, Starting Wednesday, May 19 | B Do You Still Have to Wear a Mask in California? Mandate to Remain Until June 15 | B Target, CVS and Starbucks update mask policy for vaccinated customers | C Corporate finance AT&T Agrees to Merge Its WarnerMedia Assets With Discovery | W Elliott Urges Duke Energy to Consider Separation Into Three Companies | W   Cryptocurrency From Bitcoin to Dogecoin: What’s Driving Cryptocurrencies’ Rise and the Challenges Ahead | W Elon Musk impersonators stole more than $2 million in crypto scams | C

May 17 (Monday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets I Stocks Rise to End Turbulent Week of Trading | W Stay-at-Home Stocks Have Been Crushed. Here Are Ones That Could Still Win Long Term. | BR   Markets II Income Investors, Meet GARY: It Brings Growth and Reasonable Yield | BR Why Rising Inflation Will Continue to Boost Lumber, Copper, and Steel | BR Investments to Buy as Inflation Rises: Oil Stocks, Baseball Cards, Luxury Watches and Other Hedges | BR Central banks Central Banks Jump Into Climate-Change Policy Fray | W US I Consumer-price inflation in America jumps up to 4.2% | E Inflation Is Here and Hotter Than It Looks. What It Means For You. | BR Inequality Would Widen if U.S. Policies Spur Sustained Inflation | W Here’s What Could Stop Inflation in Its Tracks | BR US II The coming global economic boom could have a sting in the tail | E Companies Are Flush With Cash—and Ready to Pad Shareholder Pockets | W States are ending federal unemployment benefits early. Here’s what to know and what’s at stake | C In America, a million evictions take place in a normal year | E Afternoons Are the New Rush Hour in the Suburbs | W China China’s census shows its population is nearing its peak | E   Geopolitics & trade Israel air strikes kill 42 Palestinians, rockets fired from Gaza | R U.S. trade chief pressured to lift duties on Canadian lumber | R Industries & companies Energy: Colonial Pipeline resumes normal operations after hack, but many gas stations still face shortages | C Media: AT&T in Talks to Combine Media Assets, Including CNN, With Discovery | W Pharma: Are drug patents worth it? | E REITs: KKR and Blackstone REITs Will Benefit From the Reopening | BR Retail: Retailers Try to Solve Labor Imbalances by Retraining Staff | W Tech: Behind the Epic-Apple Trial Is a Booming App Market Worth Fighting Over | W Virus There have been 7m-13m excess deaths worldwide during the pandemic | E Ten million reasons to vaccinate the world | E How can more covid-19 vaccines be made available? | E A worrying new wave of covid-19 is hitting South-East Asia | E CDC director defends telling fully vaccinated they can go without masks amid confusion in states, cities | C Offbeat Park visits predict changes in birth rates during the pandemic | E

May 15 (Saturday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Stocks Rise to End Turbulent Week of Trading | W Commodities Boost Economic Recoveries, Mirroring Aftermath of Financial Crisis | W US U.S. retail sales pause, record savings seen supporting spending | R U.S. Shoppers Continued Stimulus-Fueled Spending in April | W U.S. import prices increase solidly in April | R The U.S. Economy Is Back. Businesses Aren’t Ready. | W Less than 3% of U.S. small businesses could face tax hikes under Biden plan -White House | R San Francisco tech companies are sitting on record amounts of empty office space and offering perks to lure tenants | C Geopolitics & trade Israeli-Palestinian Strife Widens as Frantic Calls for Calm Go Unheeded | N Israel’s New Challenge: Violence Among Its Own Citizens | W U.S. tariff review considers commodity shortages, inflation -official | R Corporate finance IPO Market Faces a Critical Juncture | W Payment tech company Marqeta files for IPO as value tops $16 billion on private markets | C Virus I CDC cheered and criticized for new mask guidance; retail workers don’t want to be vaccine ‘police’ | C New Jersey will still require masks indoors despite new CDC guidelines | C Walmart drops store mask requirement for customers, employees who are fully vaccinated | C Shoppers and diners, here’s why you shouldn’t expect masking rules to change overnight | C Virus II Parents Rush to Get Covid-19 Vaccines for Their Children | W Covid variant from India more transmissible and threatens England lockdown easing, Boris Johnson says | C Cryptocurrency The IRS Is Coming for Crypto Investors Who Haven’t Paid Their Taxes | W Offbeat BlackRock Plans Staff Return in September, With Some Remote Work | B

May 14 (Friday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Stocks Rise, Snapping Three-Day Losing Streak | W Cramer: New mask rules mean drop lockdown stocks for reopening plays | C Central banks Fed’s Waller Says Inflation Jump Likely Temporary, Urges Patience | W US I U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to Another Pandemic Low | W Amazon, McDonald’s, Others Woo Scarce Hourly Workers With Higher Pay | W Inflation Is Here. What Now? | N Home prices are skyrocketing around the world | NN US II Biden Asks Republican Senators to Bring Him Reworked Infrastructure Proposal | W As Trillions Flow Out the Door, Stimulus Oversight Faces Challenges | N Geopolitics & trade Israel Begins Ground Operations Against Hamas in Gaza | W Industries & companies Autos: GM to begin production of new driverless Cruise vehicle in early 2023 | C Autos: Tesla’s Musk Renews Critique of Bitcoin, Talks Up Dogecoin | B Financials: JPMorgan, Others Plan to Issue Credit Cards to People With No Credit Scores | W Media: Disney+ subscriber growth slowing like Netflix, with much lower ARPU | C Virus Doctor says new CDC mask rules allow ‘vaccinated people can go back to normal’ | C CDC says fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear face masks indoors or outdoors in most settings | C CDC still requires masks for air, train and bus travel, despite new guidance | C Vaccine Patent Waivers Deserve a Warning Label | W Cybersecurity Colonial Pipeline paid $5 million ransom to hackers | C Colonial Pipeline Begins Restart: Latest News on the Shutdown | N Cryptocurrency Elon Musk Has Lost $20 Billion Since Hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ | yahoo.com Ethereum Luminary Makes $1 Billion Covid-19 Gift—in Shiba Inu Coin | W Coinbase CFO on crypto investors, dogecoin and growing competition | C

May 13 (Thursday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Stocks Extend Slide on Inflation Data | W Inflation spooks stocks and raises fear the Fed is wrong on price hike | C Treasury Yields Climb Following Consumer-Price Data | W Central banks Fed’s Clarida ‘Surprised’ by Inflation Report, But Stresses Need to See More Data | W Analysis: What U.S. inflation signs would cause Fed to change course? | R US I April’s inflation surge wasn’t as drastic as it looked, but the real test is still ahead | C Consumer Prices Jumped as Economic Recovery Picked Up | W Meet The Inflation Profiteers | Forbes.com Housing-Market Surge Is Making the Cheapest Homes the Hottest | W US II U.S. Ran Record $1.9 Trillion Budget Deficit in First Seven Months of Fiscal Year | W Republicans Reject Tax Increases After Biden Infrastructure Talks | W Biden sees infrastructure compromise, despite Republican ‘red line’ on taxes | R Secret Service seizes $2 billion in fraudulent Covid unemployment payments, returns funds to states | C Geopolitics & trade Hamas hits deep in Israel, which vows to keep pummelling Gaza | R China Weighs New Economic Envoy to U.S. | W Industries & companies Financials: European banks: Q1 full house is no winning hand just yet | R   Corporate finance Hertz shares surge by more than 50% after selecting $6 billion turnaround bid | C Cybersecurity Colonial Pipeline restarts after hack, but supply chain won’t return to normal for a few days | C Biden signs executive order to strengthen cybersecurity after Colonial Pipeline hack | C DarkSide, hacker group behind pipeline attack, claims three new victims | C Virus Covid in India: Variant and Deaths Spur New Lockdowns as Crisis Grows | B CDC Recommends Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for 12- to 15-Year-Olds | W CDC says 28 blood clot cases, 3 deaths may be linked to J&J Covid vaccine | C Mixing Astra and Pfizer Shots Triggers More Fatigue, Headaches | B Ohio ending Covid mask mandate June 2, sets up vaccine incentives | C Offbeat Elon Musk says Tesla will stop accepting bitcoin for car purchases | C Janus Global Bonds Head Nick Maroutsos Succeeded Bill Gross, Leaving for Family | B Cheating at School Is Easier Than Ever—and It’s Rampant | W

May 12 (Wednesday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Stocks Fall as Dow Posts Worst Day Since February | W Stock futures are flat after Dow’s worst day since February | C Asia shares wallow near one-month lows on inflation anxiety | R Central banks Fed’s Bullard says ‘it’s too early to talk taper’ while the pandemic continues | C Fed’s Brainard and Other Central Bankers Affirm Steady Monetary Policy Stance | W Fed officials sift through tea leaves of weak U.S. jobs report | R US I Inflation: April’s CPI data could show a massive year-over-year gain | C Inflation watch: Credit Suisse’s Golub on latest data and market moves | C Bridgewater Founder Ray Dalio Raises Inflation Concerns Over Federal Spending | W US II U.S. Job Openings Reach Record as Hiring Slows | W Missouri, Tennessee join U.S. states cutting pandemic payments | R Unemployed Americans worry about getting cut off from benefits early | C As the U.S. economy restarts from the pandemic, parts of it are severely broken | C Americans Up and Moved During the Pandemic. Here’s Where They Went. | W China China’s Census Highlights Its Looming Population Problem | W Geopolitics & trade Israel, Hamas Prepare for Wider Conflict as Fighting Intensifies | W Businesses beware: The ghost of Hong Kong should be a warning | TheHill Industries & companies Financials: Credit-Card Debt Keeps Falling. Banks Are On Edge. | W Cybersecurity Colonial: Spot gas shortages may worsen if pipeline doesn’t reopen soon | C Pipeline Shutdown Has East Coast Drivers Making a Run on Gas | W Beyond Colonial Pipeline, Ransomware Cyberattacks Are a Growing Threat | W Technology Google Plans to Double AI Ethics Research Staff | W Virus Covid-19 Vaccine Data on Children Under 12 Expected by Late Fall, Officials Say | W Abbott CEO says it has a team of ‘virus hunters’ on new Covid variants | C ‘CDC’s credibility is eroding’ amid conflicting mask guidance, ex-Obama official says | C

May 11 (Tuesday) YRI Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast Daily Markets Overview Today’s Morning Briefing Markets Nasdaq futures slip after Big Tech selling pushes stocks off records | C China Is Hot Again as Foreign Bond Buyers Yearn for Yield | B Corn Is the Latest Commodity to Soar | W Cybersecurity How the Colonial Pipeline Became a Vital Artery for Fuel | N Hacking group DarkSide responsible for Colonial Pipeline shutdown | C Biden prepared to take additional steps after Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack | C US Biden Disputes Argument That Enhanced Unemployment Benefits Are Hampering Economy | W Joe Biden addresses unemployment insurance after April jobs report | C Biden Administration to Start Doling Out $350 Billion in Aid to State, Local Governments | W Yellen’s goof hands GOP a potent campaign issue | TheHill Policymakers Used to Ignore Child Care. Then Came the Pandemic. | N China When Covid Hit, China Was Ready to Tell Its Version of the Story | N Japan Japan March household spending posts biggest monthly rise in 18 months | R Japan Urged to Push Pension Funds to Adopt ESG Principles | B Geopolitics & trade U.S. Ship Fires Warning Shots at Iranian Boats in Hormuz Straits | W Industries & companies Autos: Looking to Buy a Used Car? Expect High Prices, Few Options | W Biotech: BioNTech’s Covid-19 Vaccine Success Sparks Investments in German Biotech | W Hotels: Marriott Points to Rising Demand Amid Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout | W Restaurants: Restaurants are ‘sucking wind’ but battling back amid worker shortage | C Retail: Mall owner Simon’s CEO sees shopper ‘euphoria’ as people return to stores| C Virus Pfizer Covid vaccine: FDA clears use in kids ages 12 to 15 | C WHO classifies triple-mutant Covid variant from India as global health risk | C Seychelles, the World’s Most Vaccinated Nation, Sees Renewed Covid-19 Surge | W