Dr. Ed's Blog

June 26 (Saturday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
S&P 500 Closes Higher to Extend Weekly Gains | W
Speculators decrease short dollar bets in latest week -CFTC, Reuters data | R
Europe’s New Common Bonds Prove a Hit With Investors | W

Central banks
Is the Fed Getting Burned Again? by John B. Taylor | Project Syndicate
Fed’s Rosengren Says It Is Time to Weigh Pulling Back Stimulus -| W

US I
U.S. consumer sentiment rises as wealthy households improve outlook | R
Consumer Spending Is Primed to Fuel Summer Growth | W

US II
Biden’s Infrastructure Stance Draws GOP Criticism | W
What You Need to Know About the Child Tax Credit | N
Top U.S. Officials Consulted With BlackRock as Markets Melted Down | N
Why Washington Can’t Quit Listening to Larry Summers | N

China
‘Red Tourism’ Flourishes in China Ahead of Party Centennial | N
An Anxious 100th Birthday for China’s Communist Party | W

Industries & companies
Consumer discretionary: Amazon, Google Probed in U.K. Over Fake Reviews | W
Hospitality: Hotels’ and Restaurants’ Rebound Summer Held Back by Shortages of Everything | W
Pharma: Pfizer Suspends Global Distribution of Chantix Smoking-Cessation Pill on Contamination Concerns | W

Cybersecurity
Microsoft Says SolarWinds Hackers Attacked Three in New Breach | B

Virus
Delta Coronavirus Variant Prompts Limits in Australia, Israel, as India Warns of New Mutation | W

Corporate finance
Tesla Shareholder Panasonic Sells Stake for $3.6 Billion | W

Offbeat
Derek Chauvin Sentenced to 22.5 Years for Murder of George Floyd | W

June 25 (Friday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock Market News: Dow Gains 300 Points on Infrastructure Deal, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Close at New Records | W
Near-term global bond market correction likely-strategists | R

Central banks
Federal Reserve gives U.S. banks a thumbs-up as all 23 lenders easily pass 2021 stress test | C
Job hole or inflation? Fed policymakers split over risk view | R

US
Infrastructure bill update: Biden says ‘We have a deal’ | C
Biden, Senators Agree to Roughly $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan | W
Factbox: What’s in the U.S. Senate’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan? | R
U.S. infrastructure deal includes $6 billion sale from oil reserve -document | R
Democrats’ two-step infrastructure plan draws Republican ire | R
Managing Joe Manchin: How Chuck Schumer Tries to Keep Democrats United | W
Downward U.S. Jobless Claims Trend Stalls Out | W
CDC Extends Federal Eviction Moratorium Through July | W

Industries & companies
Communications services: Google Delays Cookie Removal to Late 2023 | W
Health Care: Hospital Stocks’ Rally Points to Post-Covid Growth | W
Retail: Nike (NKE) reports Q4 2021 earnings beat | C
Tech: Microsoft Launches Windows 11 in a Reboot for the App-Economy Age | W

Corporate finance
Didi Sets Valuation Target of $62 Billion to $67 Billion in IPO | W
Visa Buys Swedish Fintech Tink for More Than $2 Billion | W

Virus
Biden says more Americans will die as delta variant spreads: ‘You know it’s going to happen’ | C

Offbeat
Miami Building Collapse: Dozens Missing in Surfside, Florida; at Least One Killed | W
Environmental Investing Frenzy Stretches Meaning of ‘Green’ | W

June 24 (Thursday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Nasdaq hovers near record levels as factory activity scales new peak | R

Central banks
Fed’s Bostic Says Bond Buying Drawdown Near, Sees Rate Rise in Late 2022 | W
Rising inflation puts Bank of England on the spot | R
Jim Cramer: Fed rate hike won’t fix supply issues in housing market | C

US
Yellen says inflation should be lower than current levels by year end | R
U.S. new home sales tumble to one-year low as prices soar | R
Infrastructure Negotiators Agree to Framework for Package | W
Labor shortfall will become a labor crisis unless Biden acts on immigration | TheHill
Baby bonds: The $60 billion plan to give every American baby $1,000 | C
Biden to replace leader of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after Supreme Court ruling | C

Geopolitics & trade
U.S. bans imports of solar panel material from Chinese company | R

Industries & companies
Energy: Amazon and Other Tech Giants Race to Buy Up Renewable Energy | W
Consumer: Amazon’s Prime Day results were more muted than usual this year | C
Consumer: Kraft Heinz exec: Company managing inflation with efficiencies, brand renovation | C

Corporate finance
South Korea’s Answer to Robinhood and Venmo Lands a $7 Billion Valuation | W
Self-Driving Truck Startup Embark to Go Public in $5.2 Billion SPAC Deal | W

Virus
Covid vaccine: CDC group says there isn’t enough data yet to recommend booster shots | C
Asia may be first in, last out of the Covid pandemic, says travel services firm | C
CDC Advisory Group Says ‘Likely Association’ Between mRNA Covid-19 Vaccines and Rare Myocarditis Cases | W
Chinese Covid-19 Gene Data That Could Have Aided Pandemic Research Removed From NIH Database | W

Offbeat
Warren Buffett announces he’s stepping down from the Gates Foundation board | Vox
How PepsiCo is rethinking the office: More remote work. No assigned desks | NN

June 23 (Wednesday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock Market News: Bitcoin Price Stabilizes, Nasdaq Hits All-Time High | W
 
Central banks I
Fed will not raise rates on inflation fears alone, Powell says | R
Fed’s Powell sticks to transient inflation scenario on Capitol Hill | R
Fed’s Powell Plays Down Inflation Threat | W
Fed’s Powell: ‘very, very unlikely’ the U.S. will see 1970s-style inflation | C

Central banks II
U.S. Fed bank stress tests pave way for stock buyback, dividend bonanza | R
Fed Officials Stress Bond Buying Isn’t Aimed at Boosting Housing Market | W
Confused by the Fed? So Are Markets | W

US I
U.S. Existing-Home Prices Hit Record High in May | W
Rising Inflation Looks Less Severe Using Pre-Pandemic Comparisons | W
The coming productivity boom | MIT Technology Review

US II
Infrastructure Talks Focus on How to Pay for Bipartisan Package | W
Senate Republicans block S1 For the People Act bill | C
Families can now opt out of child tax credit payments starting July 15 | C

China
LinkedIn Accounts of Scholars Blocked in China | W

Geopolitics & trade
Can America’s Solar Power Industry Compete with China’s? One Firm Tries | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: U.S. Airports to Receive $8 Billion to Help Pay Bills as Travel Recovers | W
Airlines: ‘It’s out of control.’ Airlines, flight attendants want stiffer penalties for unruly passengers | C
Communication services: Google Faces EU Antitrust Probe of Alleged Ad-Tech Abuses | W
Fitness: Peloton getting into wearables market with heart rate armband: report | C

Virus
Delta Covid-19 Variant Could Be Dominant in U.S. in Two to Three Weeks, Study Says | W
Fauci declares delta variant ‘greatest threat’ to the nation’s efforts to eliminate Covid | C
Morgan Stanley to bar workers without Covid vaccinations from offices | C
They Relied on Chinese Vaccines. Now They’re Battling Outbreaks. | N

Crypto
Bitcoin drop below $30,000 sparks fears of another crypto winter | C

June 22 (Tuesday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Wall Street ends sharply higher, led by surging Dow | R
Stocks Rebound as Dow Gains More Than 550 Points | W
A 10% to 15% correction could be a significant opportunity: Invesco | C

Central banks
Economy Is Showing Sustained Progress, Powell Says | W
Powell notes economic improvement, but says the pandemic remains a risk | C
Fed officials open debate on bond taper | R
Analysis: Fed’s “big tent” framework may fray under inflation surge | R
Here’s why the market may be wrong about the Federal Reserve and interest rates | C

US
Biden, Congress divided on how to pay for infrastructure | R
Biden’s plan raises top capital gains tax rate to among highest in world | C
Medicaid Enrollment Surged During Covid-19 Pandemic, Report Shows | W

Industries & companies
Tech: Chip Shortages Are Starting to Hit Consumers. Higher Prices Are Likely. | W

Crypto
Bitcoin Price Extends Drop After China Intensifies Crypto Crackdown | W
 
Climate
SEC Wants More Climate Disclosures. Businesses Are Preparing for a Fight. | W

Virus
Moody’s Analytics on Covid outbreaks in Asia, Fed rate hikes in 2023 | C
Moderna Plans to Expand Production to Make Covid-19 Vaccine Boosters, Supply More Countries | W

Offbeat
Supreme Court rules against NCAA in compensation fight with college athletes | C

June 21 (Monday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Wall St Week Ahead Fed shift causes rally in value stocks to wobble | R

Central banks
ECB has made ‘good progress’ on new strategy, Lagarde says | R

US
On the Crisis and Inflation, Barron’s Shows How the Past Can Be Prologue | BR
After a quick start, Joe Biden’s legislative agenda has hit a wall | E
For Many Home Buyers, a 5% Down Payment Isn’t Enough | W
HUD Aims to Boost Homeownership for Buyers With High Student Loans | W
Student loan payments will resume soon. Here’s what you should do now | C
Hunt Is On for High-School Graduates Who Left the College Path | W

Geopolitics & trade
Joe Biden’s summit with Vladimir Putin yielded only modest gains | E
Iranian Hard-Liner Ebrahim Raisi Wins Presidency Amid Nuclear Talks | W
Biden to host Israeli President Rivlin on June 28 | C
North Face Owner Pulled Xinjiang Criticism, Then Reinstated It | W

Industries & companies
Autos: Tesla Isn’t the Only Self-Driving Car Company. The Stocks to Buy—and Ones to Avoid. | BR
Energy: The death of a totemic pipeline has been greatly exaggerated | E
Financials: The Fed Beat Up Bank Stocks. How It Can Help Them Bounce Back. | BR
Home Builders: Buy Lennar Stock: The U.S. Faces a Housing Shortage. This Builder Can Fill the Gap. | BR
Railroads: Amtrak’s Commuter Rail Expansion Faces Hurdle From Freight Trains | W
Retail: Amazon Prime Day: Supply chain problems could limit what you can buy | C
Retail: Amazon Prime Day 2021: Target cuts grocery prices in rival sales event | C
Tech: The World Relies on One Chip Maker in Taiwan, Leaving Everyone Vulnerable | W
Tech: Why PCs Are Turning Into Giant Phones | W

Cybersecurity
Ransomware highlights the challenges and subtleties of cybersecurity | E
To stop the ransomware pandemic, start with the basics | E

Crypto
New Technologies Will Reshape the Financial Ecosystem, and the World With It | BR
Crypto-miners are probably to blame for the graphics-chip shortage | E

Virus
Covid travel: As Europe travel reopens, airlines pounce with new flights | C

Technology
Pizza robots are now turning waste into packaging | C
 
Offbeat
Why Wall Street is in a rush to get workers back in the office | NN
Van life: Tech workers worked from road during Covid, may not return | C

June 19 (Saturday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets I
Dow falls more than 500 points to close out its worst week since October | C
Dow, S&P post worst week in months after hawkish Fed spooks investors | R
Explaining the volatile stock and bond market moves this week following the Fed’s update | C
‘Quadruple witching’ Friday to see $818 billion single stock options expiration – Goldman | R

Markets II
Big Oil Takes a Beating, but Its Investors Are Riding High | N
Exclusive: OPEC told to expect limited U.S. oil output growth, for now – sources | R
DeFi Platforms With Names Like SushiSwap Aim to Be Nasdaq for Crypto – Bloomberg

Global
Global equity funds see biggest inflows in three weeks – Lipper | R

Central banks
Fed’s Jim Bullard sees first interest rate hike coming as soon as 2022 | C
Fed’s Bullard looks to a bond-buying taper not on ‘automatic pilot’ | R
EXCLUSIVE Fed’s Kashkari opposed to rate hikes at least through 2023 | R

US
Inflation breakout will drive 10-year Treasury yields above 2% in coming months, Wells Fargo predicts | C

China
China Considers Lifting All Childbirth Restrictions by 2025 | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: Air Travel Returned. So Did Long Lines at Security, Restaurants, Shops. | W
Financials: HSBC to Take $3 Billion in Losses on Sale of Troubled French Bank | W
Financials: European Union Lifts Bond-Sale Ban for Some Banks | W
Fitness: Americans are heading back to gyms as interest in at-home workouts wanes, Jefferies says | C
                             
Corporate finance
Credit Suisse Slashes Business With SoftBank and Its Founder, Masayoshi Son | W
 
Virus
WHO says delta is becoming the dominant Covid variant globally | C
Biden says delta Covid variant is ‘particularly dangerous’ for young people | C
Delta Covid-19 Variant Likely to Become Dominant in U.S., CDC Director Says | W

Offbeat
West Risks Blackouts as Drought Reduces Hydroelectric Power | W

June 18 (Friday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
U.S. Stocks Diverge, Dollar Extends Rally on Fed’s Rate Outlook | W
Opinion: The real culprit for the selloff in the stock market? Hint: It wasn’t the Fed | MW
Tesla and Other Bubble Stocks Have Deflated Just Like 2000 | W
Commodities from copper to corn tumble on China crackdown, rising dollar | C

Central banks
The Economic Gauges Are Going Nuts. Jerome Powell Is Taking a Longer View. | N
Fed Reverse Repos Surge to Record of $756 Billion After Rate Tweak | W
Red-Hot U.S. Economy Drives Global Inflation, Forcing Foreign Banks to Act | W
Mortgage rates shoot higher after Fed Chairman Powell’s comments | C

US
U.S. weekly jobless claims show surprise rise to highest level in weeks | C
Schumer’s Two-Track Plan for Biden Agenda Hits Party Hurdles | B
Bipartisan $1 Trillion Infrastructure Package Gains Steam | W
Juneteenth becomes federal holiday after Biden signs bill | C

China
Soho China Sells to Blackstone, Cementing Owners’ Exit | N
He Warned Apple About the Risks in China. Then They Became Reality. | N

Geopolitics & trade
With Putin Behind Him, Biden’s Focus Shifts to China’s Xi | B
North Korea’s Kim vows to be ready for confrontation with U.S. | C

Industries & companies
Media: Nielsen Introduces New Ratings for Streaming Services | N
Media: Nielsen: Streaming makes up only 26% of time spent in front of TV | C
Social Media: TikTok Owner ByteDance’s Annual Revenue Jumps to $34.3 Billion | W

Virus
Biden is on track to fall short of vaccinating 70% of American adults by the Fourth of July | C
U.S. to Invest More Than $3 Billion in Covid-19 Antiviral Development | W
Davos is dead, and the coronavirus killed it | FT

June 17 (Thursday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
U.S. Stocks Fall as Fed Signals Rate Increase by Late 2023 | W
Oil Declines Below $72 a Barrel Following the Fed’s Hawkish Tilt | B
China to Release Metal Reserves in Effort to Tame Commodities Rally | W

Central banks
Fed expected to signal start of monetary policy shift debate | R
The Fed moves up its timeline for rate hikes as inflation rises | C
When Will the Fed Raise Rates? New Dot Plot Projects Two Hikes by End of 2023 | B
How the ECB Changed Its Strategy in the Midst of a Pandemic | B

US I
U.S. Housing Market Needs 5.5 Million More Units, Says New Report | W
Rising Housing Costs Leave Homebuyers Struggling | N
Exorbitant lumber, scarce materials hampering U.S. homebuilding | R
Opinion: Too many Americans can’t afford homes. But there is a solution | NN

US II
Earlier Fed rate hikes will not jack up low projected borrowing costs -White House | R
Infrastructure: Republican senators support bipartisan plan | C
Social Security COLA for 2022 could be higher based on consumer prices | C

China
China economy not 100% recovered from Covid pandemic: ex-PBOC advisor | C
China Denies Radiation Leak at Nuclear Reactor, Admits Fuel Rod Damage | N

Geopolitics & trade
Biden, Putin Discuss Prickly Issues During First Summit | W
Don’t expect Russians to stop state-sponsored cyberattacks, Obama defense official says | C
U.S. won’t back global tax plan with carve-outs for China – Yellen | R
How ‘Chaos’ In The Shipping Industry Is Choking The Economy : Planet Money | NPR

Industries & companies
Airlines: Southwest Airlines Delays and Cancels Hundreds of Flights a Third Day | N
Autos: GM expects inflation, semiconductor shortage to add $3 billion in extra costs in second half | C
Consumer discretionary: Not Being Amazon Is a Selling Point for These E-Commerce Players | W
Financials: Wall Street Banks Warn Their Trading Boom Is Over | W
Restaurants: McDonald’s CEO: Dine-in is here to stay despite online, drive-thru sales growth | C
Tech: Apple Struggles in Push to Make Healthcare Its Greatest Legacy | W

Corporate finance
IPO market has hit records in 2021, here are the recent debuts to watch | C
U.S. sues to stop $30 billion merger of Aon and Willis Towers Watson | C
Vita Coco Owner Is Said to Plan IPO at Over $2 Billion Value | B

Virus
Covid Fades but Is Unlikely to Vanish | W
WHO says delta Covid variant has now spread to 80 countries and it keeps mutating | C

June 16 (Wednesday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Lumber Prices Are Falling Fast, Turning Hoarders Into Sellers | W

US
U.S. retail sales take step back as spending pivots to services, trend remains strong | R
Retail Sales Dropped 1.3% in May as Pandemic Shopping Habits Shifted | W
Retail sales producer price index May 2021 jumps 6.6% from May 2020 | C
Rents for single-family homes just saw the largest gains in nearly 15 years | C
White House says child tax credit should boost economy, offset unemployment phaseout | R

US II
Lina Khan, Critic of Large Tech Firms, to Lead Federal Trade Commission | W
Congressional Democrats wary of U.S. Senate infrastructure plan | R
You Are Not Paying a Higher Relevant Tax Rate Than Billionaires | AIER
Opinion: The rich got richer while millions lost their livelihoods. It’s time for a wealth tax | N

China
China Repackages Its History in Support of Xi’s National Vision | W

Geopolitics & trade
Aerospace: U.S. and EU Agree to Suspend Airbus-Boeing Trade Fight | W
Airlines: Southwest Airlines cancels 500 flights after second technology issue in two days | C

Crypto
China’s bitcoin miner exodus | C

Virus
NY Lifts Most Coronavirus Restrictions | N
Study Finds Many Post-Covid Patients Are Experiencing New Medical Problems | N
U.S. authorizes another batch of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine | C