Dr. Ed's Blog

Apr 28 (Wednesday)

YRI

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

Markets
Stock futures flat as Big Tech earnings roll in, Fed decision looms | C

US I
Confidence in U.S. Economy Approaches Pre-Pandemic Level | W
The Pandemic Changed Where Americans Live | W
Opinion: The silver lining for workers after a hellish year? A jobs boom | NN
Nearly 1.5 Million Mothers Are Still Missing From the Workforce | W

US II
Biden Administration to Finance $8 Billion in Power-Grid Improvements | W
Biden to Omit Estate-Tax Expansion From Coming Economic Plan | B

Industries & companies
Autos: Ford Plans to Manufacture Its Own Batteries for Electric Vehicles | W
Autos: Lobbyists urge updates to federal car safety rules after Tesla crashes | C
Communication services: Google Earnings Smash Sales Records as Digital Ad Market Booms | W
Financials: Visa (V) Sees ‘Beginning of the End’ of Pandemic Spending Woes | B
Manufacturing: 3M, GE warn of supply chain constraints. What that means for Boeing | C
Manufacturing: GE Posts Lower Sales, Loss on Restructuring Moves | W
Restaurants: Starbucks (SBUX) Q2 2021 earnings beat | C
Tech: Alphabet Q1 profit boosted by $4.75 billion investment gain | C
Tech: Microsoft: LinkedIn topped $3 billion in ad revenue in last year | C

Virus
Pfizer at-home Covid pill could be available by year-end, CEO Albert Bourla says | C
Public demand for AstraZeneca vaccine falls after blood clot scares | C
CDC: Fully vaccinated people can exercise, hold small gatherings outdoors without masks | C

Offbeat
As Dog Adoptions Rise, Democrats Seek More Oversight of Breeders | B

Apr 27 (Tuesday)

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

Markets
S&P 500 rises slightly to all-time high ahead of big earnings, Nasdaq hits new record close | C
Investors Stay Hungry for Inflation-Protected Bonds | W

Central banks
The Fed’s Next Test Is Breaking the Ice Over Policy Shift | W
Analysis: Fed’s ‘maximum employment’ push may fall short in post-pandemic economy | R

US I
U.S. business spending on equipment ends first quarter on strong note | R
U.S. Durable-Goods Orders Rebound Following Dip | W
Hot U.S. Housing Market to Get Supply Boost With New Listings | B

US II
White House says capital gains tax would hit 0.3% of taxpayers | R
As U.S. capital gains tax hike looms, wealthy look for ways to soften the blow | R
Prescription-Drug Price Cuts Set to Be Left Out of White House Proposal | W
Harris to lead Biden task force promoting unions, labor organizing | R

US III
U.S. population rises to 331,449,281, Census Bureau says | C
New Census Numbers Change House: Texas Gains, New York and California Lose | B

Geopolitics & trade
Iranian Ships Swarmed U.S. Coast Guard Vessels in Persian Gulf, Navy Says | W

Industries & companies
Autos: Tesla Posts Record Earnings at Start of Turbulent Year | W
Tech: How Mark Zuckerberg and Apple’s C.E.O. Became Foes | N
Tech: Apple iOS 14.5 iPhone update is out now — here’s what’s new | C

Virus
Coronavirus U.S.: Fauci says U.S. should see a turning point within a few weeks | C
Millions Are Skipping Their Second Doses of Covid-19 Vaccines | N
Biden administration set to relax outdoor mask guidance | C
Royal Caribbean halts hiring in India as Covid cases surge there | C
Biden to Send AstraZeneca Doses Abroad, Pledges to Help Modi | B

Corporate finance
Premarket stocks: The SPAC boom has ‘screeched to a halt.’ That may be good thing | NN
Lyft Agrees to Sell Autonomous-Driving Unit to Toyota for $550 Million | W

Apr 26 (Monday)

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

Markets
Wild Market Ride Lifts Everything From Lumber to Stocks to Bitcoin | W
This Bull Market Is Far From Over, Pros Say. Where They’re Investing Now. | BR
Summer Travel Season Is on the Horizon. Expect Oil Prices to Rise. | BR

Global
The $115 Trillion Price Tag to Cut Global Emissions | W
The West Looks Past Covid-19 and Sees Economic Resurgence | W

US
Centrist Senators Signal Progress on Infrastructure Talks | W
Some Democrats Push for Permanent Expansion of Unemployment Benefits | W
Biden job approval hits 53%, broad majority support his infrastructure plan: NBC News poll | C

Geopolitics & trade
Russia’s president menaces his people and neighbours | E
China’s domestic surveillance programmes benefit foreign spies | E

Industries & companies
BioTech: Moderna Is More Than Its Covid Vaccine. Why It’s Time to Buy the Stock. | BR
Consumer: Attention shoppers: Price hikes are ahead, but consumer companies hope you won’t notice | C
Consumer: Packaged Foods Boomed During the Pandemic. Why Their Stocks Still Have Room to Run. | BR
Logistics: Buy This Shipping-Company Stock. It’s Worth More Than the Sum of Its Parts. | BR
Tech: The Big Tech Stocks Could Fall, if History Is Any Guide | BR

Virus
PM Modi says India shaken by coronavirus ‘storm’, U.S. readies help | C
State Department has warned against travel to 80% of the world. Here’s what you need to know | C
Amid Expanded Covid-19 Vaccine Eligibility, Signs Emerge of Slowing Demand | W
U.S. lifts pause on use of Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine, clearing way for states to use doses | C

Corporate finance
SPAC Insiders Can Make Millions Even When the Company They Take Public Struggles | W
Making sense of the SPAC spectacle | E

Technology
Two SpaceX crew spacecraft are now docked to the space station, as the Crew-2 mission arrives | C

Offbeat
A Guide to the 2021 Oscars | W
Elon Musk to Add ‘Saturday Night Live’ Host to His Résumé | W

Apr 24 (Saturday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stocks Rise, but Decline for the Week | W
Now That Everyone Is Bullish, Be Cautious | N
SPAC Surge Pumps Up Junk-Bond Market | W

US I
U.S., Global Economy See Pickup as Services Revive and Factories Ramp Up | W
U.S. manufacturing, new homes sales underscore booming economy | Reuters
U.S. new home sales rebound exceeds expectations in March | Reuters

US II
Taxes and inflation will be key themes for markets in the week ahead | C
Biden Focuses on Capital-Gains Taxes as He Seeks Money for Social Programs | W
Biden’s Pledge to Slash Emissions Would Require Big U.S. Changes | W

Industries & companies
Consumer: Drop in Toilet-Paper Demand Prompts Kimberly-Clark’s Worst Sales Decline in a Decade | W
Materials: Battery Metals Are Hot, but These Miners Can’t Get Investors | W

Virus
Covid-19 Is Still Raging in Much of the World as Global Cases Hit Record Highs | W
MIT researchers say you’re no safer from Covid indoors at 6 feet or 60 feet in new study | C
U.S. Lifts Pause on J&J’s Covid-19 Vaccine | W
These colleges now say Covid vaccines will be required for fall 2021 | C

Corporate finance
Panasonic to Buy Supply-Chain Software Provider Blue Yonder for $7.1 Billion | W

Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin (BTC) price plunges as $260 billion wiped off cryptocurrencies | C
Why Bitcoin Is Bad for the Environment | The New Yorker

Technology
SpaceX Launches Crewed Rocket Into Space in Latest NASA Mission | W

Offbeat
Clean tech: The last green energy boom turned to bust. Will this time be any different?  | NN
Malcolm Gladwell’s New Word Order: Audiobook First | W

Apr 23 (Friday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets I
Stock futures tick higher after concerns over capital gain tax hike prompt selling | C
Dow closes more than 300 points lower following reports of Biden eyeing capital gains tax hike | C
U.S. stocks close down on news of Biden tax proposal | R

Markets II
Fat Valuations and Tech Stocks Seen as at Risk in Biden Tax Plan | B
China’s Booming Economy Is Fueling Alternative Yuan Trades | B
Rare Lumber Trade Shows How Extreme U.S. Shortages Have Become | B

US I
U.S. Unemployment Claims Hit New Covid-19 Pandemic Low | W
U.S. Existing-Home Prices Climb on Tight Supply | W
Semiconductor shortage could dent GDP growth, boost inflation | C

US II
Biden to propose capital gains tax hike to fund education, child care: reports | C
Biden to float historic tax increase on investment gains for the rich | R
GOP Senators Release Outline of $568 Billion Infrastructure Plan | W
House Passes Bill Proposing to Make Washington, D.C., the 51st State | W

Europe
As Covid-19 Vaccines Lag, Europe Keeps Cheap Money Flowing | W

China
Jack Ma Shows Why China’s Tycoons Keep Quiet | N

Industries & companies
Airlines: Southwest, American Say Leisure Travel Rebounding as Summer Season Approaches | W
Tech: Intel CEO Sees Prolonged Chip-Supply Constraints | W
Wireless: AT&T’s Revenue Rises as Wireless Unit, HBO Add Customers | W

Climate
At Earth Day Climate Summit, Biden Pushes for Sharp Cut to Greenhouse-Gas Emissions | W

Virus
India Hits Global Record for Daily New Covid-19 Cases | W
New Covid variant shows signs of antibody resistance, more severe illness in young people | C

Apr 22 (Thursday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow closes 300 points higher to snap a 2-day drop, small caps jump more than 2% | C
Priced in? Stocks that top estimates are falling during this earnings season | C

Central banks
A farewell to forward guidance at the Fed | FT

US
The Job Market Is Tighter Than You Think | W
SALT Cap Critics Ask Yellen to Add Repeal to Biden Economy Plan | B
Biden Administration Moves to Unwind Trump Auto-Emissions Policy | W
GOP lawmaker Ken Buck urges colleagues to stop taking Big Tech money | C
Chicago Latest U.S. City to Mull Guaranteed Income for Poor | B

China
China’s Fishing Fleet, the World’s Largest, Drives Beijing’s Global Ambitions | W

Industries & companies
Autos: Used-Car Prices Leap on U.S. Economic Recovery, Supply Crunch | B
Media: Netflix falls on Q1 earnings. What Cramer and others would do now | C
Restaurants: Restaurants have a new challenge: Finding workers | NN

Corporate finance
SPAC transactions come to a halt amid SEC crackdown, cooling retail investor interest | C
Silicon Valley’s Deal Machine Is Cranking: ‘I’ve Never Seen It This Frenzied’ | W
UiPath rises 17% in NYSE debut after one of top software IPO’s ever | C
Dish stock jumps after company announces AWS cloud deal | C

Virus
Scientist who helped develop Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine agrees third shot is needed as immunity wanes | C
Pfizer Identifies Fake Covid-19 Shots Abroad as Criminals Exploit Vaccine Demand | W
FDA Finds Poor Conditions at Contractor’s Plant for Making J&J’s Covid-19 Vaccine | W
India’s Shortage of Oxygen Comes From Failure to Prepare for Second Wave | B

Technology
Artificial Intelligence, Facial Recognition Face Curbs in New EU Proposal | W

Offbeat
Yellen outlines bold climate agenda calling for net-zero emissions by 2035 | C

Apr 21 (Wednesday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
S&P 500 futures fall slightly in overnight trading, Netflix shares tank | C
Stocks Close Lower as Earnings Season Ramps Up | W
Bonds Reflect Hope That U.S. Recovery Will Spread to Europe | W

Central banks
Fed Chair Powell says won’t allow ‘substantial’ overshoot of inflation target – April 8 letter to U.S. senator | R

US
Biden’s recovery plan for families set to cost more than $1 trillion, extend enhanced child tax credit | C
Biden to Back Temporary Extension of Larger Child Tax Credit | W
Biden Increases Seasonal-Worker Visas by 22,000 | W
Former police officer Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder, manslaughter in the death of George Floyd | C

China
China’s Xi Lays Out Vision for a World Without a Single Dominant Power | W
Chinese Traffic Jams and Busy Factories a Support for Oil Bulls | B

Geopolitics & trade
Satellite Images Show Russia’s Expanding Ukraine Buildup | W

Industries & companies
Consumer: Procter & Gamble Will Raise Prices in September | W
Consumer: Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 Vaccine Adds $100 Million to Quarterly Sales | W
Media: Netflix reports dramatic slowdown in subscribers | C
Media: Netflix Plunges After Pandemic Boom Shudders to Near-Halt | B
Tech: Apple packs iPad Pros with faster chips, slims iMacs and jumps into tracking tags | R

Technology & climate
Regent is making a flying electric ferry with a top speed of 180 miles per hour | C
State Street, PepsiCo offer new goals ahead of U.S. climate summit | R

Virus
EU Calls for J&J Covid-19 Vaccine Warning on Blood Clots, But Says Benefits Outweigh Risks | W
A Covid-19 Lesson for the U.S. From Three Countries With Rapid Vaccination Rollouts | W

Offbeat
Sleeping Six Hours or Less Linked to Higher Dementia Risk, Study Finds | W

Apr 20 (Tuesday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock futures rise slightly ahead of major corporate earnings | C
Foreign Buying of Chinese Government Bonds Stalls | W

Central banks
Central bank digital currency is the next major financial disruptor | C

US fiscal policy
Why President Biden is all-in in infrastructure | TheHill
The $8T (and growing) Biden wants to spend on changing America forever | P
Smaller Corporate Tax Increase Floated at White House Infrastructure Meeting | W
Opinion | Make Tax-Dodging Companies Pay for Biden’s Infrastructure Plan | N
Democrat Floats Paying for SALT Cap Repeal With More Tax Audits | B

China
China Stresses Family Values as More Women Put Off Marriage, Childbirth | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: United Airlines (UAL) results 1Q21 | C
Media: Netflix is the biggest winner since Disney kicked off streaming wars | C
Tobacco: Biden Administration Considering Rule to Cut Nicotine in Cigarettes | W
Tobacco: Tobacco stocks drop on report Biden is planning to limit cigarette nicotine | C
Tech: Why the Chip Shortage Is So Hard to Overcome | W
Tech: IBM earnings Q1 2021 | C

Virus
CDC: Fewer than 6,000 fully vaccinated Americans contracted Covid | C
U.S. Covid vaccination obstacle shifts towards lack of demand from scarce supply, warns doctor | C
Covid-19 Cases Rise in Parts of U.S. Even as Vaccinations Pick Up | W
Why Covid-19 Vaccination in Poorer Nations Has Slowed, Posing Global Risks | W

Apr 19 (Monday)

YRI
YRI Podcast. In our latest video podcast, Dr. Ed discusses the main points of today’s Morning Briefing.
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
More Stocks Are Participating in Rally, an Encouraging Sign for Bull Market | W
Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors: Q&A With Merrill Lynch’s Private Executive Services Team | BR
T-Mobile and 13 Other Stocks That Could Pop on Earnings | BR

Central banks
The Fed should explain how it will respond to rising inflation | E

US
America’s inflation spike begins | E
Economic Growth Is Set to Surge. Hiring Might Not Keep Up. | W
U.S. Building Boom Is Sending Lumber and Steel Prices Through the Roof | BR
The political CEO | E

China
Is growth in China soaring or slowing? | E

Europe
Brexit has reinvigorated Scottish nationalism | E

Geopolitics & trade
Op-ed: China-Russia cooperation could be Biden’s biggest challenge | C

Industries & companies
Airlines: Airlines beef up U.S. summer schedules with big planes | C
Autos: ‘No one was driving’ in Tesla crash that killed two men in Spring, Texas: Report | C
Consumer: Pet Care Is a Booming Business and PetIQ Is a Smart Way to Play It. | BR
Consumer: U.S. CPSC tells consumers to stop using Peloton’s Tread+ treadmill | C
Energy: BP Wants to Stop Burning Off Gas in America’s Top Oil Field | W
Financials: Citigroup Refocuses Asia Strategy as It Pulls Back From Consumer Banking | W
Media: Netflix Is Chill About Pandemic’s End | W
Media: With Disneyland Reopening, Disney Stock Can Continue to Climb | BR

Virus
Half of U.S. adults have received at least one Covid vaccine shot | C
J&J’s Vaccine Pause Could Have Ripple Effects for the World | BR
J&J Covid-19 Vaccine Pause Driven by Risk of Mistreating Blood Clots | W
Fauci: U.S. will likely resume use of J&J Covid vaccine with a warning | C
Covid-19 ‘Challenge Trial’ Will Purposely Reinfect Adults | W
China presses Hong Kongers to accept a Chinese vaccine | E

Crypto
Bitcoin tumbles from recent high as cryptocurrencies take weekend hit | C

Tech
The creation of part-human, part-monkey embryos will discomfit many | E

Offbeat
When Fed Chief Talks, So Do Listeners—and They Provide an Earful | W

Apr 17 (Saturday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow climbs 160 points to another record, posts 4th straight week of gains | C

Central banks
Fed’s Waller says the economy is ‘ready to rip’ but policy should stay put | C

US
Concerns over inflationary pressure on earnings will test stocks in the week ahead | C
America Is Short of Home Builders as Well as Homes | W
Real estate investor who shorted subprime mortgages says this housing boom is in a bubble, too | C
March Hiring Surge Spanned the Country | W
Covid-19’s Toll on U.S. Business? 200,000 Extra Closures in Pandemic’s First Year | W

Geopolitics & trade
U.S. Urges ‘Decisive’ Steps by China to Shift Away From Exports | B
Russia to Expel 10 U.S. Diplomats From Embassy in Moscow | W
Biden Will Raise Trump Refugee Cap Following Democratic Outcry | B

Industries & companies
Aerospace: More electrical problems found on some Boeing 737 Max, sources say | C
Autos: Car shoppers should expect high prices and limited inventory this spring | C
Consumer discretionary: How Amazon fought the union drive in Alabama | C
Consumer discretionary: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Needs a Better Vision for Its Employees, Defends Work | W
Financials: Big Banks Rake in Record Profits as Stimulus Props Up Consumers | B
Financials: Morgan Stanley Books Archegos Loss, but Profit Hits a High | W
Media: Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series will cost at least $465 million for first season | C
Tech: Dell Plans Spinoff of $52 Billion Stake in VMware | W

Virus
Vaccinations in the U.S. are surging with many states nearing half of residents jabbed | C
China Plans to Approve First Foreign Covid-19 Vaccine by July | W

Corporate finance
SPAC Hot Streak Put on Ice by Regulatory Warnings | W