Dr. Ed's Blog

Mar 13 (Tuesday)

Markets
Political turmoil won’t stop the markets from going higher: Wall Street veteran Yardeni (C)
Bond Market’s Most Feared Traders Threaten Treasuries Once Again (B)
The implications of passive investing for securities markets (BIS)

Europe
Le Pen’s rebranding of National Front hits criticism (FT)

US politics
Lawrence Kudlow Being Considered for Top White House Economic Post (W)
House Intelligence Panel Wraps Up Russia Probe Interviews (W)

Trade
Talks on Trade Set as Allies Push Back (W)
Trump Tariffs May Threaten U.S. Auto Jobs, European Executives Warn (W)
Nucor to Build New Florida Steel Mill as Domestic Producers Study Tariff Impact (W)

Geopolitics
How Trump’s Disdain for the Iran Deal Makes a North Korea Pact Even Harder (NYT)
May accuses Russia over ‘reckless’ nerve agent attack (FT)

Industries & companies
Financials: Goldman Sachs Puts David Solomon in Line to Be Next CEO (W)
Industrials: Andrew Liveris to Step Down as DowDuPont’s Executive Chairman (NYT)

Corporate finance
CFIUS Suggests It May Soon Recommend Against Broadcom Bid for Qualcomm (W)
Why Intel Is So Wary of a Broadcom-Qualcomm Merger (W)
SoftBank Looks to Invade Wall Street’s Turf (NYT)
Dropbox IPO Target Valuation Set at $7 Billion to $8 Billion (W)
Apple to Acquire Magazine-Subscription Service Texture (W)

Technology
Payments are a-changin’ but cash still rules (BIS)

Offbeat
Lotto Tickets Are Nice, Boss, but Can I Have My Bonus? (NYT)

Mar 12 (Monday)

Markets
Ed Yardeni: Why Stocks Will Keep On Cooking (BR)
Global Politics Emerge as a Dicey Influence on Markets (W)
Time’s Up for Small-Caps (BR)
How ETF Popularity May Encourage Debt-Taking (W)

Central banks
China’s Central Bank Quietly Gets a Little Independence (FT)

Global
Multinationals pay lower taxes than a decade ago (FT)

US
The Great Labor Crunch (BR)

Europe
Italy is storing up trouble for the eurozone (FT)

China
Xi Jinping Clear to Rule Indefinitely as China Scraps Presidential Term Limits (W)
Xi Jinping is using his growing authority to amass even more (E)
A steamroller in reverse: China’s share of global and Asian exports is falling (E)

US politics
White House Considers Liddell to Succeed Cohn (W)

Trade
GOP Talks of Bill to Thwart Trade Tariffs (W)
EU, Japan Press for Tariff Waivers as U.S. Weighs Criteria (W)
Trump threatens German carmakers with tariffs (FT)
Tariffs: The threat to world trade (E)
A tariffically bad idea: The looming global trade war (E)
Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Tariffs (BR)

Geopolitics
Trump on Talks With Kim: ‘Tell Him Yes’ (W)
U.S. Will Make No Concessions Before North Korea Talks, Pompeo Says (B)
Mattis Warns Syria, Russia on Chlorine Weapons (W)

Industries & companies
Autos: Auto Industry’s Cure for Electric Car Blues: Be More Like Tesla (W)
Autos: Tesla Temporarily Suspended Model 3 Production in Late February (B)
Consumer: Don’t Dump Your Staples Yet (BR)
Financials: Amex to woo retailers with biggest fee cut in 20 years (FT)
Financials: Insurers Game Medicare System to Boost Federal Bonus Payments (W)
Media: ‘Black Panther’ Surpasses $1 Billion in Sales After China Debut (B)

Corporate finance
Intel May Intervene in Broadcom’s Effort to Buy Qualcomm (W)
Broadcom Schedules Vote on Plan to Become a U.S. Company (W)
Deutsche Asset-Management IPO Values Unit at Up to $8.9 Billion (W)

Technology
Robots Won’t Solve the Worker Shortage (BR)
The 99 technologies coming next (FT) | List
Why Blockchain Will Survive, Even If Bitcoin Doesn’t (W)

Offbeat
SpaceX Mars Ship Could Make Short Test Flights in ’19, Musk Says (B)
Where Will Apple Put Its Fourth U.S. Campus? (B)
It make sense for Amazon to build its second HQ near Washington (E)

Mar 10 (Saturday)

Markets
Aging Oil Fields Defy Gravity to Pump More Crude (B)

Central banks
Evans Sees Scope for Patience Before Fed Raises Rates Again (B)
Investors Prepare for the End of ECB’s Corporate Bond Buying (W)
Cash May Disappear in China as Payments Go Digital, PBOC Says (B)

US
U.S. Hiring Surges, With Jobless Rate Steady as More Enter Labor Pool (W)
Jobs Report Was No Fairy Tale (W)
Manufacturers Are Hiring, and Hiring (B)

Europe
Italy’s League vows to defy EU on fiscal discipline (FT)

US politics
After Florida Shooting, GOP Pushes School Safety Funding (W)

Geopolitics & trade
Trump-Kim Summit Has U.S. Allies Scrambling (W)
Inside Trump’s Trade War: How the Protectionists Beat the Free Traders (W)
China, Europe Slam Trump’s Tariffs as Metalworkers Cheer (W)
Japan, the Original Trade Villain, Now Casts Itself as the Hero (W)

Industries & companies
Autos: Auto Industry’s Cure for Electric Car Blues: Be More Like Tesla
Financials: Goldman’s Blankfein Prepares to Exit as Soon as Year’s End (W)
Financials: Meet the 2 men in position to replace Lloyd Blankfein at the top of Goldman Sachs (BI)
Financials: Timing Is Everything Unless You’re a Bank Regulator (B)
Media: The massively popular free-to-play video game ‘Fortnite’ is coming to iOS and Android devices (BI)

Corporate finance
Qualcomm Makes Independent Director Its New Chairman (W)
Toys ‘R’ Us Liquidation Would Leave Giant Hole in U.S. Industry (B)

Technology & cryptocurrency
Amazon, Google Work on Air-Traffic Control for Drones (W)
Bitcoin Is Ridiculous. Blockchain Is Dangerous (BW)

Offbeat
Obamas in talks with Netflix about TV series (FT)
FDA Opens Way for You to Test for Cancer Risk by Mail (W)

Mar 09 (Friday)

Markets
Ed Yardeni: Why Stocks Will Keep On Cooking (BR)
Is the bull market for stocks moving into a more dangerous phase? (USA)
US small-caps benefit from trade protectionism talk (FT)
Equity Winners and Losers From China’s Big Political Meeting (B)

Central banks
ECB drops pledge to buy more bonds if needed (FT)

US
U.S. Household Net Worth Rises on Higher Stock, Home Values (W)
Mortgage Rates at a Four-Year High Threaten to Roil Housing (W)

Europe
Hundreds of European stocks to be barred from dark pools (FT)
Italian state’s debt holdings surpass those of banks (FT)

China
Xi and China’s ‘good emperor, bad emperor’ problem (FT)
The Uncomfortable Marriage Between China and Its Tech Giants (W)
Rejections Pile Up for Chinese Firms Seeking Listings at Home (W)

Trade I
In the White House shuffle, trade guru Navarro takes spotlight (CBS)
Meet Peter Navarro—the Man Behind Trump’s Embrace of Tariffs (W)
Trump offers steel tariff exemptions to ‘real friends’ (FT)
U.S. Asks China for Plan to Reduce Trade Deficit by $100 Billion (W)
China warns of ‘necessary response’ to US trade war (FT)

Trade II
Trump Tariff Plan Challenges System U.S. Helped Build (W)
Revived TPP Shows Trade Will Go On Without U.S. (B)
After tax-cut love, corporate America clashes with Trump on trade (CS)
Welders, Axle Makers and Others Fear Soaring Costs From Trump Plan (W)

Corporate finance
Cigna Agrees to Buy Express Scripts in $52 Billion Deal (W)

Technology & cryptocurrency
Automation Isn’t Killing Jobs, Study Says, But May Be Keeping Income in Check (W)
Japan Suspends Trading on Two Cryptocurrency Exchanges (W)

Mar 08 (Thursday)

Markets
Dow Industrials Fall as Cohn’s Exit Adds to Trade Concerns (W)
Buy-the-Dip Believers Rejoice After White House Tries to Ease Trade Tension (B)

Central banks
The Fed Isn’t Scared of Inflation or a Trade War (B) | Brainard Speech
Fresh Evidence of Flaring Wage Growth Appeared in Fed’s Beige Book (W)
Germany balks at Weidmann bid for ECB presidency (FT)

US
U.S. Trade Deficit Widened Again in January (W)
Spring Home Sales Could Be the Weakest in Years (W)
U.S. Productivity Growth Stalls (W)

Europe
Germany’s AfD sparks outrage over links to Syrian regime (FT)
Italy’s election: charts show how economic woes fuelled Five Star (FT)

US politics
Here Are the Names Circulating to Replace Gary Cohn (B)
With Eye to Midterms, Democrats Offer Alternative Tax, Infrastructure Plan (W)

Trade
‘Death by China’ economist ascendant (R)
Trump Set to Sign Tariff Plan as GOP Lawmakers Object (W)
Trump Alienates Allies Needed for a Trade Fight With China (W)
Trump shows signs of softening on tariffs (FT)
Mnuchin Says Tariffs Will Benefit U.S. Despite Retaliation Risk (B)
US Steel plans to restart steelmaking in Illinois (FT)
Pacific countries seek new members for trade deal (FT)

Geopolitics
China searches for point person to manage relationship with Trump (FT)
Russian Influence Campaign Extracted Americans’ Personal Data (W)
Netanyahu Warns U.S. Lawmakers About Saudi Nuclear Power Deal (B)

Industries & companies
FAANGs: Amazon Targets Medicaid Recipients as It Widens War for Low-Income Shoppers (W)

Technology & cybersecurity
Elon Musk touts a test drive of Tesla’s highly-anticipated electric semis (C)
Reports of Problems at Crypto Exchange Send Bitcoin Tumbling (W)
Bitcoin Dives After SEC Says Crypto Platforms Must Be Registered (B)
‘Regulation can add to credibility’ of crypto market: CFTC commissioner (C)

Offbeat
Amazon Is Working on a Fix for Randomly Laughing Alexa Speakers (B)

Mar 07 (Wednesday)

Markets
Trump Facing ‘Dow Vigilantes’ in Stock Market Verdict on Tariffs (B)
Keep Calm About U.S. Crisis And Invest in Stocks, Barclays Says (B)
Global trade tension troubles German stock market (FT)
Saudi Aramco Says Fears of `Peak Oil Demand’ Are Overblown (B)

Central banks
Fed Considering ‘Broad Revisions’ to Volcker Rule Compliance (W)
New Powers Come With Pressure for Europe’s Central Bank (W)

Global
Global Inflation Stalled in January (W)

US
How Are Laundry Machines and Roads Alike? They’re Infrastructure (W)

China
China Spends More on Domestic Security as Xi’s Powers Grow (W)
Beijing Wants Tech Darlings Like Alibaba and Tencent to List at Home (W)

Emerging
Emerging markets under pressure as debt mounts (FT)

US politics 
Can Democrats Ride a Blue Wave to Midterm Gains? (W)

Trade
Trump Says U.S. Has ‘No Choice’ But to Go Ahead With Tariffs (B)
Ryan Edges Back From Tariff Criticism, Seeks Targeted Plan (W)
Mnuchin: Tariffs Won’t Apply to Mexico, Canada if Nafta Is Reworked (W)
EU retort to Trump’s tariffs risks breaking WTO rules (FT)
Harley Braces for More Trump Trade Harm After His Pledge to Help (B)
Beijing’s aluminium cuts matter more for US producers (FT)

Geopolitics
North Korea Says It Is Open to Talks on Nuclear Weapons (W)
Trump Says North Korea Progress Possible, He’s Ready to ‘Go Hard’ (B)

Industries & companies
Consumer: P&G brand chief to ‘take back control’ from agencies (FT)
FAANGs: Amazon Prime Veteran Heads to Airbnb (W)
FAANGs: Amazon Squeezes Instacart in Whole Foods Delivery Push (B)
FAANGs: Netflix’s Subscriber Growth Momentum Trumps Cash Burn (for Now) (B)
FAANGs: Facebook turns to music to connect with users (FT)
Financials: Beware threat of risky debt and opaque shadow banks (FT)
Financials: Axa’s deal for XL highlights pressure on specialists (FT)
Media: Discovery, HGTV, Food Network Prep for a Skinny TV Bundle (W)

Corporate finance
CVS’s $44 Billion Bond Sale Tests Nervous Market (W)
U.S. Letter Reveals Why It Is Intervening in Broadcom’s Bid for Qualcomm (W)

Cybersecurity
The New ID Theft: Millions of Credit Applicants Who Don’t Exist (W)

Offbeat
JPMorgan Quants Develop Model for Socially Responsible Investing (B)

Mar 06 (Tuesday)

Markets
Stocks Surge on Speculation Trade Threat Overstated (B)
Earnings Don’t Pack Much Punch After Long Stock Rally (W)
U.S. Will Be World’s Largest Oil Producer by 2023 (W)

Central banks
Inflation Clarity Eludes the Fed and Markets (B)
Fed Study Finds Inverted Yield Curve Still Good Recession Alert (B) | FRBSF Economic Letter

US
U.S. Services-Sector Activity Remains Robust Despite Employment Drop-Off (W)
Why the U.S. Trade Deficit Is Worse Than it Seems (W)
The Baby Boom and the U.S. Productivity Slowdown (FRB-SL)
Demographics Give a Big Head Start for Family Income and Wealth (W)

Europe
Italy Faces Political Paralysis After Populist Jolt (W)

China
China Congress Applauds Xi’s Bid for Indefinite Rule (W)

US politics
House Speaker Ryan Breaks With Trump Over Steel Tariffs (W)
Where Corporate Taxes Are Poised to Rise Because of Tax Overhaul: States (W)

Geopolitics
A New Phase Opens on North Korea; Is the U.S. Ready? (W)
Kim Jong Un Holds First Known Meeting With South Korea (W)
Trump links planned steel tariffs to Nafta negotiations (FT)
U.S. Metals Tariffs Would Hit Canada Much Harder Than Mexico (B)

Industries & companies
FAANGs: Amazon in talks to offer bank accounts with JPMorgan (FT)

Corporate finance & cybersecurity
AXA to Buy Insurer XL Group for $15.3 Billion (W)
Due Diligence on Cybersecurity Becomes Bigger Factor in M&A (W)
When to Report a Cyberattack? For Companies, That’s Still a Dilemma (N)

Cryptocurrency
Crypto Exchanges Are Raking in Billions of Dollars (B)

Offbeat
Here Come the Fake Videos, Too (N)
Millennials to Fashion Brands: Sex Doesn’t Sell (W)

Mar 05 (Monday)

Markets
Dow Drops 3% for the Week—and It Isn’t Just Tariffs (BR)
Why High-Yield Bonds Could Be Mispriced (BR)

Central banks
Fed officials voice concern about Trump tariffs (FT)

US
The Housing Market’s Rebound Is Far From Over (BR)

Europe
Merkel wins backing for grand coalition (FT)
Angela Merkel’s Real Work Is Starting Now in Her Fourth Term (B)
Merkel’s Fourth Term Likely to Be Her Last (W)
Italy goes to the polls with bleak electoral prospects (E)

China
What a Longer Xi Reign May Mean for Investors (BR)
How the West got China wrong (E)
Marriott Employee Roy Jones Hit ‘Like.’ Then China Got Mad (W)

US politics
Trump’s Proposed Tariffs Risk Hobbling Infrastructure Plan (W)

Geopolitics
What you need to know about the Trump steel tariffs (FT)
Trump Adviser Sees No Tariff Exclusions as U.S. Allies Protest (B)
Europe Fears Return of Steel Glut as U.S. Imposes Tariffs (W)
China, U.S. Officials Will Reconvene Talks on Trade Disputes (W)

Industries & companies
Autos: How China’s Geely Turned a Disassembled Mercedes Into a Global Car Company (W)
Manufacturing: Optimism for Manufacturers Upended With Trump’s Tariff Pledge (W)
Retail: Finding the Bargain Stocks Among Department Stores (BR)
Wireless: For Ericsson and Nokia, 5G Can’t Deploy Fast Enough (BR)

Corporate finance
Axa in Advanced Talks to Buy U.S. Insurer XL Group (B)
Siemens Plans Healthineers IPO Valuing Unit at About $38 Billion (B)

Cryptocurrency
Crypto Investing Comes With a Big Risk: The Exchanges (W)

Offbeat
Your Location Data Is Being Sold—Often Without Your Knowledge (W)

Mar 03 (Saturday)

Markets
The Stock Market Falls Prey to Rekindled Trump and Fed Doubts (B)
Stock Pickers Are Picking Up Steam (W)
Possible weapon in a trade war: dumping U.S. debt (R)
Bond yields have support from a world getting older (FT)
The Yen Emerges as the Currency-Market Winner From Trade Tensions (B)

Central banks
Plain-speaking Powell dodges the political bear traps (FT)

US
U.S. Inflation May Be Less Than Meets the Eye, These Gauges Show (B)
Amazon will collect sales tax for shipments to Pennsylvania as states seek to recoup billions (C)

Europe
Europe’s Political Riddle: What Happened to the Moderate Left? (W)

China
One Last Step: Xi Jinping Stands at the Precipice of Lifelong Rule (W)

Geopolitics
‘Trade wars are good,’ Trump says, defying global concern over tariffs (R)
Trump Won’t Exempt Allies From Tariffs (W)
EU Threatens Iconic U.S. Brands After Trump Opens Door to Trade War (B)
Wounded globalists plot fightback in Trump’s trade war (FT)
Trump may have doomed North American free trade deal (C)

Cybersecurity
SEC subpoenas TechCrunch founder’s cryptofund amid broader investigation into digital coins (C)

Industries & companies
Autos: Toyota Announces New Company Devoted to Self-Driving Cars (W)

Offbeat
BlackRock Goes Public With Questions to Gun Industry (W)
Delta CEO says, ‘Our values are not for sale,’ after Georgia lawmakers drop tax break (C)

Mar 02 (Friday)

Markets
Dow Vigilantes (YRI)
Dow Closes Down More Than 400 Points (C)
Stocks Dive After Trump Announces New Tariffs (W)
Capital is on its way to America, but for bad reasons (E)

Central banks
How Little Does the Fed Know? (W)
Powell Bullish on Economy, but Sees No Signs of Overheating (W)

US
U.S. monthly inflation picks up; jobless claims at 48-year low (R)
More Evidence of U.S. Economic Tailwinds, From Tax Cuts to Jobs (B)
With Lumber in Short Supply, Record Costs Set to Juice Home Prices (W)

Europe
Germany’s SPD faces moment of truth (FT)

US politics
U.S. After-Tax Incomes Rise Due to Tax-Code Changes, Spending Slows (W)
Treasury Issues Tax Guidance Limiting Carried-Interest Provision (W)

Geopolitics & cybersecurity
Trump Says U.S. to Impose Harsh Steel and Aluminum Tariffs (B)
Russia has ‘unstoppable’ nuclear arms says Putin (FT)
Closed Factories, Stockpiled Seafood, Power Shortages: Sanctions Bite North Korea (W)
Equifax Identifies Additional 2.4 Million Hit by 2017 Breach (W)

Industries & companies
Autos: Weak U.S. February sales chill automaker stocks on Wall Street (R)
Consumer: P&G Contends Too Much Digital Ad Spending Is a Waste (W)
Consumer: For the Cosmetics Industry, a Regulatory Makeover Awaits (W)
Financials: Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management Unit Under Investigation (W)
Pharma: Big pharma, big data: why drugmakers want your health records (R)
Tech: Social media faces EU ‘1-hour rule’ on taking down terror content (FT)
Tech: Twitter CEO Gives Blunt Assessment of the Company’s Failures (W)

Corporate finance
Surge in Buybacks Renews Debate Over Tax-Cut Benefits (W)

Technology
Boeing Is Getting Ready to Sell Flying Taxis (B)
Why Your Next Real-Estate Deal Might Involve a Robot (W)
Overstock.com Shares Drop on SEC Cryptocurrency Probe (W)