Dr. Ed's Blog

October 11 (Friday)

Markets
Stock futures rise after optimistic Trump comments on US-China trade (C)
Trade Talk Flop Would Hurt Stocks More Than Mini-Deal Would Help (B)
These stocks are the China trade talks ‘tells’ — they’ll move on deal progress or a breakdown (C)
Signs Point to Increase in Corporate Bond Sales (W)

Central banks
Fed eases post-crisis rules for domestic, foreign banks (R)
Fed’s Kashkari to back rate cut, but does not expect recession: WSJ (R)

US
U.S. consumer inflation tame, labor market still tightening (R)
That Superlow Mortgage Rate? It Could Be Even Lower (W)

US politics
Giuliani associates charged with illegally funneling cash to pro-Trump group (R)
Trump says he hopes his lawyer Rudy Giuliani doesn’t get indicted (C)
White House Shifted Authority Over Ukraine Aid Amid Legal Concerns (W)

Geopolitics & trade
Trump Says Day One of U.S.-China Trade Talks Went Very Well (B)
Day 1 of U.S.-China trade talks ends with hopes for limited deal (R)
Trump to Meet With China’s Top Trade Negotiator on Friday (W)
Thousands flee, hundreds reported dead in Turkish attack on U.S.-allied Kurds in Syria (R)

Industries & companies
FAANGs: Apple deferred to the Chinese government long before the Hong Kong protests (C)

Offbeat
More than two dozen now dead from vaping lung illness as outbreak spreads, CDC says (C)

October 10 (Thursday)

Markets
Stocks rise for the first time in 3 days as traders hope for US-China trade progress (C)
Trump Is Tweeting Less About China and That’s Good for Stocks (B)

Central banks
Fed Officials Last Month Worried Trade War Could Curb Hiring, Consumer Spending (W)
Fed Minutes Show Debate Emerges on When to Halt Rate Cuts (B)
Federal Reserve policymakers increasingly divided on way ahead, minutes show (R)
Powell: Fed’s ‘significant’ political protection makes public outreach an ‘obligation’ (R)
Greece, Once in Crisis, Joins Negative-Rates Club (W)

US
Job Openings in U.S. Decline to Lowest Since March 2018 (B)
Decreasing U.S. job openings point to cooling labor market (R)

US politics
Elizabeth Warren Vows to Remake Capitalism. Businesses Are Bracing. (W)
Joe Biden calls for Trump’s impeachment for the first time (C)
Sanders says he ‘misspoke’ about scaling back rallies after heart attack, vows ‘vigorous’ 2020 campaign (C)

Geopolitics & trade
China reportedly lowers expectations for progress on trade talks this week after US blacklist (C)
Low expectations for trade talks: ‘If you’re looking for good news, they didn’t cancel the trip’ (C)
China Open to Small Trade Deal If Trump Eases Tariff Threats (B)
Trump says there is a ‘really good chance’ of U.S.-China trade deal (R)
Trade Talks Resume at Pivotal Moment in U.S.-China Relations (W)
Turkey Begins Offensive Against U.S. Ally in Syria (W)

Industries & companies
Aerospace: American Delays 737 MAX’s Return, Grounding Costs Mount (W)
Autos: Tesla Needs Its Battery Maker. A Culture Clash Threatens Their Relationship. (W)
Retail: Bed Bath & Beyond names Mark Tritton as President and CEO, stock soars (C)
Utilities: Power Outage in California Affects Millions as PG&E Tries to Avoid Wildfire (W)
Utilities: Next Part of Massive California Blackouts Starts Later Today (B)

Cybersecurity
Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: US heading in ‘same direction as China’ with online privacy (C)
Marco Rubio Calls for Review of TikTok Deal (W)

Offbeat
Trump rips NBA players, officials for ‘pandering to China,’ but says league has to work out dispute on its own (C)

October 09 (Wednesday)

Markets
U.S. Stocks Fall on Trade Worries (W)
Asian stocks fall by the most in a week as U.S.-China standoff escalates (R)

Central banks
Fed Chair Powell Signals Balance Sheet Will Grow Soon After Recent Market Turmoil (N)
Fed’s Powell says U.S. expansion is ‘sustainable’ (R)
Fed to Buy More Treasurys in Bid to Avoid Funding-Market Strains (W)

US
Weak U.S. producer inflation bolsters case for Fed rate cut (R)
U.S. Producer Prices Unexpectedly Declined in September (W)
UBS Warns of Weakness for U.S. Consumers Who Propel Economy (B)

Europe
Britain, EU Trade Blows Ahead of Brexit Deadline (W)

China
China’s surveillance firms defend themselves after US blacklisting and claims of human rights abuses (C)

US politics
Trump Spurns Cooperation in Impeachment Probe, Escalating Fight (B)

Geopolitics & trade
China ‘strongly urges’ US to remove sanctions and stop accusing it of human rights violations (C)
U.S. visa move against China casts pall over talks to end trade war (R)
The U.S.-China Relationship Is Swiftly Deteriorating by the Day (B)
Expanded U.S. Trade Blacklist Hits Beijing’s AI Ambitions (W)
Russian Operative Said ‘We Made America Great’ After Trump’s Win (B)

Industries & companies
Aerospace: Boeing 737 MAX’s Return to Service Faces Further Delays (W)
FAANGs: Facebook’s Libra Hits Extra Regulatory Roadblocks in Europe (W)
Pharma: J&J Hit With $8 Billion Jury Award Over Antipsychotic Drug (W)
Restaurants: Food Makers Say Taste, Not Health, Drives Sales (W)

Corporate finance
Aramco IPO prospectus to be filed by end of the month, report says (C)

October 08 (Tuesday)

Markets
U.S. Stocks Tick Lower as Investors Await Trade Developments (W)
Oil Prices Inch Lower as Dollar Rises Ahead of Trade Talks (W)
Hedge Funds Post the Best Performance This Year Since 2013 (B)

Central banks
Fed Chair Powell Underscores Importance of Independent Central Bank (W)

China
China’s Riskiest Form of State Borrowing Enjoys a New Boom (W)

US politics
Polls begin to signal rising impeachment threat to Trump (C)
Republican Canaries in the Impeachment Coal Mine (W)
Appeals Court Stays Order That Trump Release Tax Returns (W)
Economists Worry That MMT Is Winning the Argument in Washington (B)

Geopolitics & trade
Former Trump officials and lobbyists dined with Zelensky campaign at Trump hotel months before infamous phone call (C)
Pentagon, White House Budget Office Get Ukraine Subpoenas (W)
U.S. Adds Chinese Firms to Blacklist (W)
U.S. Blacklists Eight Chinese Tech Companies on Rights Violations (B)
Trump’s updated China blacklist slams shares of chipmaker Ambarella (C)
Republican allies blast Trump’s decision to hand northern Syria over to Turkey (C)
Trump Whipsaws on Turkey as Threat Follows Green Light on Syria (B)

Industries & companies
Aerospace: Boeing Sued by Southwest Pilots on ‘Rush’ to Sell Unsafe Max (B)
Financials: HSBC Plans Job Cuts as Interim CEO Seeks to Make His Mark (W)
Industrials: GE to Freeze Pensions for 20,000 Workers (W)
Industrials: Larry Culp’s GE Plan: a Fix, Not a Reinvention (W)
Technology: Samsung says its third-quarter profit likely fell 56% from a year earlier (C)

Corporate finance
WeWork Investors Turned Off by ‘Sloppy’ IPO Filings (W)
Group Nine to Acquire PopSugar in Latest Wave of Digital Media Tie-Ups (W)

Offbeat
Researchers find e-cigarettes cause lung cancer in mice in first study tying vaping to cancer (C)

October 07 (Monday)

Markets
Dow and S&P 500 will try to snap a 3-week slide as US-China trade talks kick off in the week ahead (C)
Whatever the Future Holds, Stocks Are Not Priced for a Recession (B)
100-Year Muni Bonds Might Just Be the Safest Yield Play (BR)
Chinese Stocks Lag Because Companies Neglect Shareholders (BR)

Central banks
There’s No Recession Coming. The Fed Will Make Sure of That. (BR)
Federal Reserve Interest Rate Cuts Alone Can’t Prevent a Recession (BR)
Fed’s George Sees No Need to Ease Unless Slowdown Deepens (B)

US
Dim Earnings Outlook Imperils Stocks (W)
Economy is hitting a ‘soft patch,’ but PNC expects market to reclaim record highs this quarter (C)
Even High-Income Millennials Fear They’ll Need to Work Forever (B)

China
China’s Riskiest Form of State Borrowing Enjoys a New Boom (W)

US politics
There’s now a second whistleblower in the Trump Ukraine case (C)
Wall Street’s Optimism Sinks as Warren’s Star Rises (BR)
Sanders Suffered Heart Attack This Week (W)
Doctors, Once GOP Stalwarts, Now More Likely to Be Democrats (W)

Geopolitics & trade
China is reportedly reluctant to agree to a broad US trade deal with talks set to restart (C)
Trump allies pressed Ukraine over gas firm (C)
US small businesses are fighting an uphill battle against counterfeiters in China: ‘It’s like whack-a-mole’ (C)
North Korea doubts U.S. will have alternative plans inside two weeks (R)
Iraqi police fire on protesters in new unrest, death toll passes 100 (R)

Industries & companies
Autos: UAW says GM labor talks ‘have taken a turn for the worse’ (C)
FAANGs: A new smaller, cheaper iPhone could boost sales in early 2020, top Apple analyst Kuo predicts (C)
Financials: Banks Expected to Get Break on Postcrisis Rules (W)
Financials: HSBC to Cut Up to 10,000 Jobs to Slash Costs, FT Reports (B)
Financials: ‘Free’ Trading Has Arrived. Be Sure to Read the Fine Print. (BR)
Pharma: Bayer says October U.S. glyphosate trial delayed until February (R)
Pharma: Sacklers Received as Much as $13 Billion in Profits From Purdue Pharma (W)

Corporate finance
Fear Overtakes Greed in IPO Market (W)
WeWork’s IPO Failed. Now It’s Time to Bet Against Pot Stocks. (BR)

Offbeat
Vaping’s Black Market Complicates Efforts to Combat Crises (W)

October 05 (Saturday)

Markets
Dow jumps 350 points, cutting losses for the week after steady jobs report (C)
‘Goldilocks’ jobs data propels Wall St to best day since August (R)
Opinion: Here’s one more reason why October is looking muddy for U.S. stocks (MW)

Central banks
Powell says it’s the Fed’s job to keep the economy in a ‘good place’ for ‘as long as possible’ (C)
Jobs Report Keeps October Rate Cut Discussion on The Table (W)
With economic signals mixed, Fed policymakers still divided (R)

US
U.S. Hiring Steady as Jobless Rate Falls to Half-Century Low (W)
U.S. Unemployment Hit 50-Year Low in September (W)
U.S. Payrolls and Wages Miss Estimates in New Sign of Downshift (B)
Is the U.S. Slowing or Stalling? That’s the Question After the Jobs Report (B)
Capital spending outlook another worry ahead of earnings (R)

US politics
House Democrats request documents from Vice President Mike Pence in Trump impeachment inquiry (C)
Trump, in August Call With Senator, Denied Diplomat’s Claim of Link Between Ukraine Aid, Probe (W)
Ukraine to Review Probes Into Firm Tied to Biden’s Son (W)
DNC turns to 2020 candidates for fundraising help in fourth quarter as committee struggles to raise cash (C)
Elizabeth Warren Nets $24.6 Million in Third-Quarter Fund-Raising (N)

Geopolitics & trade
Trump sees ‘very good chance’ of China trade deal, says no link to Biden probe request (R)
Apparent Iranian government-linked hackers targeted Trump campaign, Reuters reports (C)
Street Battles Break Out After Hong Kong Bans Masks at Protests (W)

Industries & companies
Autos: Nissan Audit Chief Sought to Expand Ghosn Probe—and Was Shut Down (W)
FAANGs: PayPal withdraws from Facebook’s libra cryptocurrency (C)
Financials: Banks Expected to Get Break on Postcrisis Rules (W)
Media: Disney Bans Netflix Ads as Streaming’s Marketing Wars Intensify (W)
Media: Amazon Clashes With Disney Over Terms for Offering Apps in Fire TV (W)

Corporate finance
Everything Is Private Equity Now (B)
Google Weighs Acquisition of Rival to Video App TikTok (W)

October 04 (Friday)

Markets
Stocks Bounce Back on Hopes for Rate Cut (W)
The Dow Was Down Because the Market Is Really Worried About the U.S. Economy (BR)
Euro Drifts Toward Its Lowest Level Against Dollar In Years (W)

Central banks & IMF
Fighting Against the Bank of Japan May Not Be Crazy After All (B)
IMF’s New Chief Vows to ‘Fix the Roof’ Before Storm Hits (W)

US
Services Stumble Threatens Sharper Slowdown (W)
New plunge in mortgage rates could save borrowers thousands of dollars (C)
All Signs Point to Soft U.S. Jobs Report After Run of Weak Data (B)

US politics
Adam Schiff says Trump asking China to investigate Biden is ‘a fundamental breach’ of his oath of office (C)
Trump signs executive order on Medicare, says he won’t let Democrats steal your health care (C)
Sanders to Participate in Ohio Debate (C)

Geopolitics & trade
Trump Removed Ukraine Envoy After Complaints From Giuliani, Others (W)
State Department approves possible $39 million Javelin missile sale to Ukraine amid Trump impeachment probe (C)
Hong Kong to Invoke Emergency Powers to Tackle Protests (W)

Industries & companies
Autos: Tesla Sets Record for Car Deliveries, but Challenges Remain (W)
Autos: Cars’ Pedestrian-Safety Features Often Fail, Study Finds (W)
Consumer: PepsiCo Revenue Climbs, but Profit Drops on Higher Expenses (W)
FAANGs: Barr Presses Facebook on Encryption, Setting Up Clash Over Privacy (W)
FAANGs: Facebook Must Remove More Content if Ordered, EU Rules (W)
Industrials: Industrial Stocks Poised for Their Worst Week Since December (W)
Media: Amazon Clashes With Disney Over Terms for Offering Apps in Fire TV (W)
Pharma: Trump suggests without evidence that pharmaceutical industry could be pushing impeachment probe (C)
Retail: Costco’s Profit Falls Just Short of Investors’ High Expectations (B)
Tech: New Uber App Pairs Gig Workers With Employers (W)
Utilities: PG&E May Rank Among Most Expensive Bankrupty Cases Ever Filed (B)

Offbeat
Vaping illness outbreak surpasses 1,000 cases, 18 deaths with no sign of slowing, CDC says (C)
‘Joker’ Review: The Laugh’s on Us (W)

October 03 (Thursday)

Markets
The Dow dropped more than 800 points in two days — here’s what’s going on (C)
Wall Street tumbles as trade war threatens U.S. economy (R)
Actually, the Stock Market Has Barely Moved the Last Two Years Under Trump (B)
Investors keep their faith in Hong Kong markets despite protests (R)

Central banks
Slumping Data May Force Powell to Move to Third Cut (B)
Fed’s Williams says outlook for U.S. economy ‘mixed’ (R)

US
Slowing U.S. private hiring adds to gloom over economy (R)
For a Change, It’s the World That Is Pulling Down the U.S. Economy (W)
A key number on Thursday will reveal whether the economic slowdown is spreading (C)

Europe
Johnson’s Last-Ditch Brexit Bid Meets Skepticism in EU (W)

US politics
Trump slams impeachment probe as Democrats seek White House documents (R)
Campaign Wire: Elizabeth Warren Unveils Plan to Tax Lobbying (W)

Geopolitics & trade
U.S.-China Factory Breakup Is Hard to Do (W)
US to impose tariffs on EU aircraft and agricultural products (C)

Industries & companies
Aerospace: Boeing Prioritized Costs Over Safety, Engineer Alleges (W)
Autos: GM’s U.S. Sales Up 6.3% in Third Quarter (W)
Autos: Tesla delivers a record 97,000 vehicles in third quarter, falling short of forecasts (C)
Financials: E-Trade drops commissions on trades, joining Schwab, TD Ameritrade in brokerage fee war (C)
Tech: Here’s a first look at Microsoft’s folding phone and dual-screen laptop — plus the new Surfaces (C)
Tech: Samsung Galaxy Fold: The $2,000 Phone of the Future Is Here—Please Don’t Break It (W)

Technology
Your Next Vacation Is Written on Your Face (W)

Offbeat
‘Toxic chemical fumes,’ not oils, may be causing vaping illness, Mayo Clinic researchers find (C)

October 02 (Wednesday)

Markets
Wall Street tumbles as factory activity hits 10-year low (R)
U.S. Government Bonds Jump After Weak Manufacturing Data (W)
King dollar reigns supreme as U.S. outshines the euro area (R)

Central banks
Trump targets ‘pathetic’ Federal Reserve after worst manufacturing reading in a decade (C)
Fed’s Evans: U.S. Still on Path for ‘Solid’ 2.25% GDP This Year (W)

US
U.S. Economy’s Slowdown Spurs Concern It’s Nearing Stall Speed (B)
U.S. manufacturing dives to 10-year low as trade tensions weigh (R)

Europe
Boris Johnson to Make His ‘Final’ Brexit Offer: My Deal or No Deal (B)

US politics
Trump Impeachment Defense Complicated by Tense Giuliani-Barr Relationship (W)
Pompeo pushes back on House impeachment inquiry (R)
Silicon Valley donors starting to back Elizabeth Warren despite her pledge to break up Big Tech (C)
‘Fear’ of a President Warren Is Hurting For-Profit Education Stocks, Analysts Say (B)
Trump, RNC blow away top Dems with $125 million fundraising haul in the third quarter (C)
Kamala Harris campaign raises $11.6 million in the third quarter (C)

Geopolitics & trade
Hong Kong Protester Shot by Police Amid Widespread Violence (W)
Hong Kong Protests Bring More Pain as Chinese Shoppers Stay Away (B)
U.S. and North Korea to Resume Nuclear Talks, Pyongyang Says (W)

Industries & companies
FAANGs: Amazon’s Grocery-Store Plan Advances With Los Angeles Leases (W)
FAANGs: Facebook Scrambles to Keep Libra on Track as Partners Waver (W)
FAANGs: Leaked Facebook audio is a sign of decreased morale, former employees say (C)
Media: FCC Rollback of Net Neutrality Rules Partly Upheld by Appeals Court (W)
Tech: Uber and Lyft close at record lows as investor skepticism grows around recent IPOs (C)

Corporate finance
WeWork property defaults may be next after failed IPO, says mega-developer Don Peebles (C)
Ford Retrenches With a Joint Venture in India (W)
U.S. Steel to Buy Stake in Lower-Cost Competitor (W)

October 01 (Tuesday)

Markets
U.S. Stocks Rise to Cap Volatile Quarter (W)
Apple and Microsoft push Wall Street higher as trade worries abate (R)
Don’t expect calm markets in October, historically a month for wild swings (C)
U.S. dollar share of global currency reserves at lowest since 2013: IMF data (R)

US
Third quarter could mark turning point in U.S. profit cycle (R)

Europe
Johnson Allegations Overshadow Brexit Message to Party Faithful (W)

China
The Bad News on China’s Economy Gets a Little Better (W)

US politics
Impeachment probe heats up as Trump rages at inquiry (R)
House Democrats subpoena Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani in impeachment probe (C)
Pompeo Took Part in Ukraine Call, Official Says (W)
Who pays the most under Bernie Sanders’ ‘inequality tax’ plan (C)
New York judge dismisses blue state suit over SALT tax deductions (C)

Geopolitics & trade
On U.S. delisting threat, China says ‘decoupling’ would harm both sides (R)
Hong Kong Protesters Taunt Beijing in Bid to Spoil Communist China’s Birthday (W)
Bolton warns, amid stalled talks, that North Korea will never give up its nukes (C)

Industries & companies
Autos: ‘Strike pay’ kicks in at $250 a week for GM union members as work stoppage hits home (C)
FAANGs: Facebook to Exempt Opinion and Satire From Fact-Checking (W)
Pharma: Drugmakers Look to Use Purdue Pharma’s Bankruptcy to Settle Opioid Suits (W)
Retail: Here’s why the Forever 21 bankruptcy could be really bad news for US mall owners (C)

Corporate finance
WeWork throws in the towel on its ill-fated IPO (R)
Budweiser Brewer’s IPO Draws Cheers From Investors (W)
How PetSmart Swallowed Chewy—and Proved the Doubters Wrong (W)