Dr. Ed's Blog

Mar 12 (Friday)

YRI
In this video podcast, Dr. Ed discusses how another round of government checks might drive stock prices higher in coming weeks.
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
S&P 500 jumps 1% to a record as Biden signs new stimulus, Nasdaq rallies 2.5% | C
Why $4-a-Gallon Gas May Be Coming Your Way This Summer | N
The world went on a debt binge last year. There could be a nasty hangover | NN

Central banks
ECB to Speed Up Bond Purchases to Prop Up Sluggish Economy | W

US
U.S. Jobless Claims Ease as Hiring Picks Up | W
Cash-Out Refinancings Hit Highest Level Since Financial Crisis | W

US politics
Biden infrastructure bill: GOP and Democrats fight over taxes, green agenda | C
Covid stimulus update: Biden signs $1.9 trillion relief bill | C
Stimulus checks could start hitting bank accounts this weekend, White House says | C
Student loan forgiveness is now tax-free. Is cancellation coming? | C
Cuomo under fire: New York Democrats start to privately discuss running for governor | C
House Passes Gun-Control Measures Backed by Democrats | W

China
China Lays Plans to Tame Tech Giant Alibaba | W
China All but Ends Hong Kong Democracy With ‘Patriots Only’ Rule | W

Industries & companies
Consumer discretionary: Amazon (AMZN) Grocery Store Chain Being Quietly Built During Covid, Pandemic | B
Media: Netflix password-sharing crackdown being tested | C

Virus
Biden Tells States to Make All Adults Eligible for Covid-19 Vaccine by May 1 | W
J&J’s Single-Dose Covid-19 Vaccine Approved by EU Drug Regulator | W
Novavax vaccine 96% effective against original coronavirus version in UK trial | C
U.S. Covid Decline Nears Point at Which Other Surges Reignited | B
Fauci was ‘blind to the harms of the lockdowns’ that didn’t work anyway, says Stanford doctor

Corporate finance
Coupang Shares Rise 70% in Debut | W
Grab Is in Talks to Go Public Through a SPAC Merger | W

Offbeat
Beeple NFT is most expensive ever sold at auction, tops $60 million | C
Modern Life Is Messing With Our Microbiomes, but Science Is Fighting Back | W
The new must-have for those who can afford it? Their very own electrical grid. | NBC

Mar 11 (Thursday)

YRI
In this video podcast, Dr. Ed discusses how another round of government checks might drive stock prices higher in coming weeks.
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock futures little changed after Dow sets record high | C
Stock market today: Dow rallies 460 points to close at a record as bond yields fall, House passes new stimulus | C
Premarket: Speedy vaccines are boosting King Dollar | NN

US
U.S. consumer prices rise; underlying inflation muted for now | R
These Businesses Thrived in Lockdown. Can They Keep It Up Now? | W

US politics
Stimulus update: House passes $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, sends to Biden | C
U.S. Budget Deficit Widened to $1 Trillion From October Through February | W
Stimulus update: Biden prepares to stake presidency on infrastructure bill | C
States Expected Covid-19 to Bring Widespread Tax Shortfalls. It Didn’t Happen. | W

China
China’s low GDP target gives Beijing room to address market risks | C
China’s Rise Drives a U.S. Experiment in Industrial Policy | W

Geopolitics & trade
A New Generation Takes the Lead in Myanmar Protests | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: U.S. extends $14 billion lifeline to airlines in third government aid package | R
Autos: Booming Electric-Vehicle Demand Supercharges Lithium Prices | W

Virus
Covid vaccines: 100 million in U.S. will be inoculated by April, Gottlieb says | C
Biden Loads Up on Extra Shots, Fueling Vaccine Gap Worldwide | B
Covid: Biden says he will announce ‘next phase’ of U.S. response Thursday | C
Covid-19 Variant Vaccine From Moderna Begins Human Testing | W

Corporate finance
Verizon to Tap Debt Market to Pay $36 Billion Tab on 5G Airwaves | B
SoftBank-backed Coupang raises $4.2 billion in IPO, sources say | C
GE to Wind Down GE Capital After Shedding Jet-Leasing Unit | W

Cybersecurity
Massive Hacks Linked to Russia, China Exploited U.S. Internet Security Gap | W
Expect College Wait Lists to Be Obnoxiously Long This Year | W
Beyond stimulus: Gen Z’s dream of high-speed rail and Green New Deal infrastructure | VOX

Mar 10 (Wednesday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
In this video podcast, Dr. Ed discusses how another round of government checks might drive stock prices higher in coming weeks.
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock futures inch higher in overnight trading after Nasdaq’s best day since November | C
Tech Shares Bounce Back With Biggest Advance of Year | W

US
Unexpected U.S. Growth Surge Could Unbalance Fragile Global Economy | W
Inflation may have been warming up in February, but it could be hot by May | C

Europe
EU Seeks to Double Share of World Chip Market by 2030 in ‘Digital Sovereignty’ Drive | W

US politics
Yellen Says Treasury Preparing to Deliver Relief Funds Quickly | B
House plans to pass $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill Wednesday, send it to Biden | C
What’s in the Third Covid-19 Stimulus Package? | W
Young Central American Migrants See Biden Era as Chance to Enter U.S. | W

Industries & companies
Autos: Tesla (TSLA) Stock Bounces Back Following Steep Five-Day Decline | B
Energy: Tesla vs. Exxon Is the Perfect Recovery Bet | W
Media: Disney+ Streaming Service Reaches More Than 100 Million Subscribers | W
Retail: Mastercard exec says almost 75% of apparel sales were made online last month | C
Wireless: T-Mobile to Step Up Ad Targeting of Cellphone Customers | W

Virus
Covid-19 Death Forecast Drops as Pandemic Indicators Improve | B
BioNTech-Pfizer Could Have Capacity for 3 Billion Covid Vaccine Doses in 2022 | B

Corporate finance
Volatility Hits the Sizzling SPAC Market | W
A GE-AerCap Deal Would Add Pressure on Boeing and Airbus | W
Amazon-Backed Deliveroo Plans IPO, Testing London’s Appetite for Big Tech | W
Roblox goes public Wednesday — here’s how indie game makers turned it into a $30 billion company | C
SoftBank Put $400 Million Into Greensill Months Before Collapse | W

Technology
America’s Battery-Powered Car Hopes Ride on Lithium. One Producer Paves the Way. | W

Cybersecurity
Microsoft’s big email hack: What happened, who did it, and why it matters | C
‘Really messy’: Why the hack of Microsoft’s email system is getting worse | C
Tesla (TSLA), Cloudfare (NET) Breached in Verkada Security Camera Hack | B

Mar 09 (Tuesday)

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

Markets
Dow rises 300 points to touch a record, Nasdaq sheds 2% as rotation out of tech continues | C
Nasdaq Enters Correction Territory as Tech Shares Sink | W
Cathie Wood says the underlying bull market is strengthening and she’s finding great buying opportunities in the sell-off | C

Central banks
Fed extends small business liquidity facility three months to June 30 | R

US
‘Significant’ scarring will limit pent-up consumer demand: Stephen Roach | C

Europe
As U.S. Throws Workers a Lifeline, Europe’s Safety Net Leaves Many Behind | W

US politics
Biden Team Races to Assemble New Climate-Change Strategy | W
With the biggest deficit since WWII, the US thinks it can print mad money | P
Stimulus update: House plans to pass Biden Covid relief bill | C
Factbox: What is in the final version of U.S. Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid plan? | R
U.S. can deliver COVID-19 aid checks quickly, but child tax credit is hurdle | R
The American Rescue Plan creates a tax problem for the unemployed | C
Congress Is Poised to Upend Tax Season With New Break for Unemployment Benefits | W

Industries & companies
Restaurants: Covid-19-Closed Restaurants Are Reopening. Running Them Is Still a Battle. | W

Virus
CDC Says Fully Vaccinated People Can Gather Privately Without Masks | W
Covid: CDC study finds about 78% of people hospitalized were overweight or obese | C
Gov. Ned Lamont defends easing Covid restrictions in Connecticut | C
Many ‘Long Covid’ Patients Had No Symptoms From Their Initial Infection | N

Corporate finance
Quantum-Computing Startup IonQ Plans Public Debut in $2 Billion SPAC Merger | W

Technology
Elon Musk: Connecting RVs and trucks through Starlink satellites | C
Mark Zuckerberg: How smart glasses could help combat climate change | C

Mar 08 (Monday)

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

Central banks
Powell’s Dashboard Shows How Far U.S. Economy Has to Go on Jobs | B
The Fed Doesn’t Fear Inflation. Its Critics Have Longer Memories | B

Global
How to make a social safety-net for the post-covid world | E
‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’: Chaos Strikes Global Shipping | N

US
Companies Are Feeling the Inflation Pinch. What to Watch Next. | BR

US politics
Senate Democrats Pass $1.9 Trillion Covid-19 Relief Plan | W
Biden says people will start getting stimulus checks this month as soon as House passes Covid relief bill | C
Unemployment benefits end next week. It may be too late for Congress to stop it, experts say | C
Sen. Joe Manchin open to party-line vote on future bills with voting rights legislation now in focus | C
Biden Is Shutting Out Wall Street. Investors May Be in for a Surprise. | BR
Two more women accuse New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of inappropriate conduct | C
Fence Around U.S. Capitol Should Come Down, Many Residents and Lawmakers Say | W

China
Xi Jinping’s Eager-to-Please Minions Snarl His China Plans | W
Making sense of a purge of China’s security services | E

Geopolitics & trade
Chinese foreign minister takes firm tone, calls for ‘non-interference’ between China and the U.S. | C
Huawei Loses Cellular-Gear Market Share Outside China | W

Industries & companies
Autos: Electric Vehicles Are the U.S. Auto Industry’s Future—If Dealers Can Figure Out How to Sell Them | W
Energy: Nuclear power must be well regulated, not ditched | E
Pharma: Vertex Stock Fell After a Setback on a New Drug. It’s an Opportunity for Investors. | BR
Retail: Lowe’s Can Win the Reopening, Too. Its Stock Is a Buy. | BR

Virus
Having Trouble Getting the Covid Vaccine? Your Company Might Soon Offer It. | W
U.S. Government Scientists Skeptical of One-Shot Regimen for Pfizer, Moderna Covid Vaccines | W
Study of Aggressive Covid-19 Strain in Brazil Suggests Limits of China Vaccine | W
Russian Disinformation Campaign Aims to Undermine Confidence in Pfizer, Other Covid-19 Vaccines, U.S. Officials Say | W

Cybersecurity & cryptocurrency
China-Linked Hack Hits Tens of Thousands of U.S. Microsoft Customers | W
Jack Dorsey is offering to sell the first tweet as an NFT and the highest bid is $2.5 million | C
The cost of mining for cryptocash | C

Technology
Two books explore CRISPR | E
The Robots Are Coming for Phil in Accounting | N

Mar 06 (Saturday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stocks face the crosscurrents of higher interest rates and fiscal stimulus in the week ahead | C
U.S. Treasury Yields Waver After Strong Jobs Report | W
Chinese Investors Turn to Bank Stocks as Market Darlings Plunge | B

Central banks
Unfazed by bond market, Fed sets course for sustained, easy policy | R
Minneapolis, Atlanta Fed Leaders Shrug Off Rising Bond Yields | W

US
February Hiring Sets Up Stronger Spring Recovery | W
U.S. labor market roars back; full recovery still years away | R

US politics
Stimulus Package Update: How the Senate Changed Covid-19 Relief Bill | W
Democrats Reach Deal With Manchin to Extend $300 Unemployment Through Sept. 6 | W
Yellen says higher Treasury yields signal recovery, not inflation | R
Biden adds Big Tech critic Tim Wu to his economic staff | R
New York lawmakers strip Gov. Cuomo of emergency Covid powers as sexual harassment, death data scandals roil state | C

China
China’s Plan for Digital Yuan Imperils Bitcoin’s Biggest Markets | B
Short on Babies, China Wants People to Live and Work Longer | W

Geopolitics & trade
U.S. condemns China’s Hong Kong moves, working to ‘galvanize’ action against abuses | R
U.S. Blacklisted China’s Xiaomi Because of Award Given to Its Founder | W
U.S., EU Suspend Tariffs Imposed in Boeing-Airbus Dispute | W

Industries & companies
Financials: Goldman Sachs commits to net-zero emissions by 2030 | The Hill
Financials: Goldman Sachs Partners’ Exits Point to a Changing Culture at the Bank | N

Virus
World’s Worst Covid Crisis Is Unfolding in Brazil, Where No Fix Seems to Work | B
California eases Covid rules, giving Disneyland and other theme parks go-ahead for limited reopening April 1 | C

Corporate finance
Robinhood chooses the Nasdaq for its IPO, sources say | C

Cybersecurity
More than 20,000 U.S. organizations compromised through Microsoft flaw, source says | C

Offbeat
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Interview With Oprah Fetches at Least $7 Million From CBS | W
Is universal income closer to reality? Cities from Stockton to St. Paul are already testing monthly checks for residents | USA

Mar 05 (Friday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock futures are flat after a steep sell-off on Wall Street amid surging bond yields | C
Dow falls more than 300 points as Powell fails to ease rate fears, Nasdaq goes negative on the year | C
Stock-market crash? No, but rising bond yields are sparking a nerve-racking rotation below the surface | MW
U.S. bonds: 10-year Treasury yield jumps back above 1.5% after Powell comments on inflation | C
US oil production won’t return to pre-pandemic levels: Occidental CEO | C
Dollar Rises to Touch 108 Versus Yen for First Time Since July | B

Central banks
Powell Confirms Fed to Maintain Easy-Money Policies | W
Fed Chairman Powell says economic reopening could cause inflation to pick up temporarily | C
Powell Sends Dovish Message That Leaves Bond Market Disappointed | B
Fed Chair Powell Offered a Patient Message. Markets Quivered Anyway. | N
Why the market is worried about Powell’s stance on inflation | C

US
Covid stimulus update: Senate takes step toward passing $1.9 trillion relief bill | C
30-Year Mortgage Rate Tops 3% for First Time Since July | W
Mothers Are Regaining Jobs, Even While Shouldering Pandemic Burdens at Home | N
Opinion | We Expect 300,000 Fewer Births Than Usual This Year | N

US politics
Democrats’ Ambitions on Voting Rights, Policing Run Headlong Into Senate Filibuster | W
Climate change: John Kerry talking to banks, asset managers about clean energy | C
Biden meets with U.S. lawmakers on infrastructure push | R
Biden Gets GOP Warning on Infrastructure: Expect to Pay for It | B
U.S. Treasury launches $9 billion coronavirus aid for low-income lending | R

Industries & companies
Autos: GM Looking to Build Second Battery Factory in U.S. | W
Retail: Costco Sales Rise 15% in Latest Quarter | W

Virus
One and Done: Why People Are Eager for Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine | N
Pfizer Plant Helping Boost Covid Vaccine Production Has Repeat Quality Offenses | B
WHO Investigators to Scrap Plans for Interim Report on Probe of Covid-19 Origins | W

Cryptocurrency
China’s digital yuan: What is it and how does it work? | C

Offbeat
Exclusive: U.S. blocked Myanmar junta attempt to empty $1 billion New York Fed account – sources | R
Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment Faces Reckoning as Tech Trade Stalls | W

Mar 04 (Thursday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock futures decline, after major averages dip amid rising bond yields | C
Tech Shares Fall as Yields Rise | W

Central banks
The Fed starts to acknowledge that it has an eye on tumult in the bond market. | N
U.S. Businesses Optimistic About Economy Due to Vaccines and Hiring, Fed Beige Book Says | W

US
America’s jobless owe thousands of dollars in taxes on their unemployment | WP

US politics
Biden agrees to limit number of people who will get checks in Covid relief plan | C
Biden Suggests Obama Erred in Not Celebrating 2009 Stimulus | B
Two of the most powerful economic voices in America disagree on a tax for the uber-rich | NN
John Kerry has a warning for Big Oil | NN
U.S. House set to pass sweeping election bill, Senate prospects unclear | R
U.S. House cancels Thursday session after police warn of possible plot on Capitol | R

Industries & companies
Communication services: Google to Stop Selling Ads Based on Your Specific Web Browsing | W
Real estate: Commercial Property Giant Moves Into Rental Houses | W
Real estate: The Hottest Amenity From Developers? A Power Plant Made of Batteries. | N
Restaurants: Starbucks, Target Among Companies to Still Mandate Masks in Texas Despite Lift on Covid-19 Restrictions | W
Retail: Disney shuttering at least 20% of Disney Stores as it shifts focus to e-commerce | C
Tech: Drones With ‘Most Advanced AI Ever’ Coming Soon To Your Local Police Department | FO

Virus
As U.S. Covid cases stall, top health officials warn variants could ‘hijack’ nation’s progress | C
‘When will it end?’: How a changing virus is reshaping scientists’ views on COVID-19 | R
Biden Expects U.S. to Have Covid-19 Vaccines for All Adults by End of May | W
President Joe Biden slams governors for lifting mask mandates, calls it ‘Neanderthal thinking’ | C
Emergent BioSolutions says it can make 1 billion Covid vaccine doses annually | C
More Than 271 Million Shots Given: Covid-19 Tracker | B

Corporate finance
China’s Tencent Becomes an Investment Powerhouse, Using Deals to Expand Its Empire | W

Cybersecurity
Microsoft Warns of Chinese Hackers Targeting Email Product | W

Technology
SpaceX Starship prototype rocket explodes after successful landing in high-altitude flight test | C

Mar 03 (Wednesday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock futures rise slightly in overnight trading after Tuesday’s losses | C
Stocks Drop After Monday’s Rally | W
Why the stock market’s big rotation can continue even if bond yields stop rising | MW
Opinion: Even a modified ‘Buffett Indicator’ is more bearish than ever | MW
Goldman Sachs says it’s the beginning of a structural bull market in commodities | MW

Global
After Crushing Covid-19 Last Year, These Countries Are Getting Left Behind in the Recovery | W

Central banks
Fed officials emphasize policy ‘patience’ as outlook improves | R

US
10% GDP growth? The U.S. economy is on fire, and is about to get stoked even more | C
Is Inflation a Risk? Not Now, but Some See Danger Ahead | W

US politics
Biden’s Hurdle: Courts Dubious of Rule by Regulation | W
Pete Buttigieg Is Bullish on Finally Passing an Infrastructure Plan | B
U.S. House to consider $15 minimum wage in ‘near future,’ leader says | R
Biden nominee for top economist post, Rouse, heads for U.S. Senate confirmation | R
Biden withdraws Tanden’s nomination to be White House budget chief | R

Geopolitics & trade
Pentagon concerned by U.N. report indicating possible North Korea nuclear reprocessing | R

Industries & companies
Airlines: Opinion: A shortage of pilots could keep the airlines from making a real comeback | NN
Energy: Houston’s Big Oil Conference Goes Green as Energy Transition Accelerates | W
Financials: Regional Bank Stocks Rise as Bond Yields Climb | W
Restaurants: Fast-food drive-thrus are getting smarter. Here’s how | NN
Retail: Target Boosts Growth During Covid-19 Pandemic, at Rivals’ Expense | W
Retail: Nordstrom (JWN) reports Q4 2020 earnings | C
Retail: CVS, Walgreens Look for Big Data Reward From Covid-19 Vaccinations | W

Virus
Covid vaccine: White House says U.S. will have enough for every adult by end of May | C
Japan embarks on random and targeted COVID-19 testing, but some experts call for more | R
Texas Governor Lifts Covid-19 Mask Mandate, Business Restrictions | W

Corporate finance
Hertz Floats Bankruptcy Exit Led by Investor Group | W

Offbeat
Yusaku Maezawa opens up public seats on SpaceX Starship moon flight | C

Mar 02 (Tuesday)

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

Markets
Stocks rocket higher in broad rally to start March, S&P 500 jumps 2% for best day since June | C
U.S. Treasury Yields Fall After Notching Big Gains Last Week | W

Central banks
Fed policy changes could be coming in response to bond market turmoil, economists say | C

US
One year into pandemic, sky begins to clear over U.S. economy | R
Virus Did Not Bring Financial Rout That Many States Feared | N
U.S. factory activity scales three-year high, price pressures building | R
How Can Biden Bring Back Manufacturing Jobs? Weaken the Dollar | N
Is Inflation a Risk? Not Now, but Some See Danger Ahead | W

US politics
Stimulus update: Democrats to drop minimum wage plan in Covid relief bill | C
Many Businesses Support a Minimum-Wage Increase—Just Not Biden’s $15-an-Hour Plan | W
11 million Americans face an unemployment-benefits ‘cliff’ if lawmakers don’t extend COVID-19 relief programs | MW
Warren Revives Wealth Tax, Citing Pandemic Inequalities | N

Europe
Banks in Germany Tell Customers to Take Deposits Elsewhere | W

Geopolitics & trade
U.S. to Take Hard Line on Chinese Trade Practices, Administration Says | W
Biden administration to consider carbon border tax as part of trade agenda: USTR | R
Biden’s Plans to Rally Allies on China Are Put to the Test | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: Return of business travel, sustainable fuels expected in aviation’s future | R
Consumer discretionary: Biden Backs Amazon Workers’ Push to Unionize in Alabama | W
Energy: Exxon Adds New Board Members Amid Activist Pressure | W
Energy: To go electric, America needs more mines. Can it build them? | R
Media: How the Pandemic Stalled Peak TV | N
Tech: Apple stock has biggest day since Oct. 12 after Buffett endorsement, stores reopen | C
Tech: Zoom (ZM) earnings Q4 2021 | C

Cryptocurrency & technology
China Charges Ahead With a National Digital Currency | N
Bitcoin (BTC) is at a ‘tipping point,’ Citi says | C
New York attorney general warns cryptocurrency industry: ‘Play by the rules or we will shut you down’ | C
Tesla isn’t the only EV stock set for gains this year, says analyst | C

Virus
J&J Covid-19 Vaccine Shipments Head for States | W
Pfizer or AstraZeneca Single Dose Cuts Hospitalizations by 80% | B
Dimon Sees ‘Carrots and Sticks’ Approach to Covid Vaccines | B
New York Covid-19 Variant Drawing Concern From Fauci, CDC | B
Fearing Covid-19 Surge, Florida Officials Crack Down on Spring Breakers | W

ESG
Big Companies Disclose Details on Gender, Race in Workforces | W

Offbeat
Eat Just: Good Meat sells lab-grown cultured chicken in world-first | C