Dr. Ed's Blog

Mar 01 (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

Markets
Bond-Market Tumult Puts ‘Lower for Longer’ in the Crosshairs | W
An Alternative-Energy Fund Favors Yield Companies and Avoids Tesla Stock | BR

Central banks
Investors Worry the Fed’s Fast Driving Means It’ll Have to Hit the Brakes | W

US
Fiscal stimulus fires up U.S. consumer spending; inflation benign | R
Pandemic window-shopping: Abandoning e-commerce shopping carts | C

US politics
House Covid relief bill extends and raises unemployment benefits | C
Same old GOP – It’s Donald Trump’s party, Republicans are just living in it | United States | E
Trump to proclaim himself as the future for Republicans in speech | R
Lawmakers Push for New York Attorney General Review of Accusations Against Cuomo | W

China
China’s factory activity expands at a slower pace in February, misses expectations: official PMI | R
China Got Its Economy Growing Again, but a Shortfall in Babies Will Be Harder to Fix | W

Geopolitics & trade
Iran Rejects Offer of Direct U.S. Nuclear Talks, Senior Diplomats Say | W
Nukes of hazard – America’s ICBMs are ageing. Does it still need them? | United States | E
The battle for China’s backyard – The rivalry between America and China will hinge on South-East Asia | Leaders | E
Op-ed: A digital dollar would help the U.S. and its allies keep China in check | C
‘How many dead bodies?’ asked Myanmar protester killed on bloodiest day | R

Industries & companies
Media: Sonos Stock Is Soaring, and Chair Mike Volpi Bought More Shares | BR
Retail: Macy’s, Gap, Neiman Marcus Will Let You Buy Now, Pay Later | W
Retail: Ross Stores Stock Was Hit Hard by Covid. Why It’s a Unique Bargain Among Discount Retailers. | BR
Retail: Kohl’s Stock Surges as Activists Step Up Pressure | BR
Retail: U.K. Online Retailer Asos Is Expanding. Why the Stock Could Be in Fashion. | BR
Tech: Tech competition – The rules of the tech game are changing | Leaders | E
Utilities: Utilities Offer Yield and a Way to Play Green Energy. And Their Stocks Are Cheap. | BR

Virus
Fauci urges Americans to get any of the three COVID-19 vaccines available | R
UK’s Sunak says vaccine passport idea might help the economy | R

Technology & cybersecurity
How Europe Became the World’s Biggest Electric-Car Market—and Why It Might Not Last | W
SolarWinds Hack Pits Microsoft Against Dell, IBM Over How Companies Store Data | W

Corporate finance
Coinbase, Roblox take page from Google, keeping marketing costs down | C

Offbeat
Stop writing – Covid-19 has boosted the campaign against exams in American schools | United States | E

Feb 27 (Saturday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow drops more than 460 points to end losing week on rate fears | C
Rising interest rates may continue to test the stock market in the week ahead | C
These stocks are set to benefit from a post-Covid travel rebound | NN
SEC Suspends Trading in 15 Stocks That Got Hyped on Social Media | B

Global
G20 promises no let-up in stimulus, sees tax deal by summer | R

US
When Will the U.S. Economy Recover? | Morningstar
Boost to Household Income Primes U.S. Economy for Stronger Growth | W
$1,400 stimulus checks: Adult dependents may be eligible for money | C

US politics
Coronavirus stimulus update: House to pass $1.9 trillion Biden relief bill | C
Biden’s New Energy Secretary Eyes Big Investment to Boost Clean Technologies, Harden Electric Grid | W
Yellen Removes Obstacle to Global Corporate-Tax Deal | W
Republican Civil War Over Trump? Not at CPAC | W

China
U.S. to Impose Sweeping Rule Aimed at China Technology Threats | W
A Spreadsheet of China’s Censorship Shows the Human Toll | N

Geopolitics & trade
Democrats criticize Biden launching airstrikes in Syria without asking Congress | C
Saudi crown prince MBS approved Jamal Khashoggi killing | C

Industries & companies
Airlines: Airline CEOs urge White House support for greener aviation fuel | R

Virus
J&J board member says 20 million Covid vaccine doses will be delivered by the end of March | C
J&J Covid vaccine: FDA panel unanimously recommends emergency use | C
J&J: 2 people had severe allergic reactions after getting Covid vaccine | C

Corporate finance
Robinhood Said to Plan Confidential IPO Filing as Soon as March | B
McDonald’s Considers Partial Sale of Digital Startup Dynamic Yield | W
SPAC Frenzy Emboldens Silicon Valley Startups to Forgo Venture Funding | W

Offbeat
Texas Power Market Is Short $2.1 Billion in Payments After Freeze | W

Feb 26 (Friday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow futures drop 100 points amid climb in interest rates | C
Why stock investors are starting to really worry about rising bond yields | C
U.S. bonds: Treasury yields rise to highest level in more than a year | C
In a Flash, U.S. Yields Hit 1.6%, Wreaking Havoc Across Markets | B
Vanguard Charts a Narrow Path in China, Staking Its Future on a Fledgling Venture | W

Global
Rich Countries Borrowed $18 Trillion in 2020. Few Seem Worried About Them Paying It Off. | W

US
U.S. Durable-Goods Climbed 3.4% in January | W
Pulling Up the Inflation Anchor by Robert J. Barro | Project Syndicate
How an increase in inflation affects the average American | Washington Times
Powell Says Better Child Care Policies Might Lift Women in Work Force | N

US politics
Biden’s aid bill wildly popular with Americans — except Republicans in Congress | R
Senate Waits for Minimum-Wage Ruling From Parliamentarian | W
A not-so-stimulative stimulus bill | TheHill
How some families could get more than $14,000 in new Covid relief | C
Trump’s Tax Returns Arrive at Manhattan Prosecutor’s Office | B

China
China’s Campaign to Crush Democracy in Hong Kong Is Working | W
In China, an Electric Car Maker Loses Money but Thinks Big | N

Geopolitics & trade
Global Trade Roars Back From Depths of Covid-19 Pandemic | W

Industries & companies
Communication services: Facebook Fight Over Media Payments Shifts Focus to Europe | W
Consumer discretionary: Etsy stock surges on earnings beat and strong guidance | C
Tech: Salesforce (CRM) earnings Q4 2021 | C
Tech: Airbnb (ABNB) earnings Q4 2020 | C

Climate & virus
Ignore climate change at your own risk, says BlackRock — green-energy transition will drive 25% output growth by 2040 | MW
Covid Hospital Admissions Drop 72%, Led by Oldest U.S. Patients | B
Positive news on COVID vaccines weighs against concerns over new variants | MW
FDA allows storage, transport of Pfizer vaccine at higher temperatures | R
Lessons From the U.K. About a More-Contagious Covid-19 Variant | W

Corporate finance
AT&T to spin off DirecTV, AT&T TV Now and U-Verse into new company | C

Feb 25 (Thursday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stock futures higher after Dow’s record close | C
Wall Street finishes up as Fed’s Powell soothes inflation fears | R
Markets Suggest the Economy Is Booming. The Recovery Has a Long Way to Go, Though. | W
Lumber Prices Are Soaring. Why Are Tree Growers Miserable? | W
Here are 3 reasons that the stock market can survive rising bond yields in 2021 | MW

Central banks
Federal Reserve Interbank Payment System Suffers Outage | B

Climate & Texas
SEC Opens Review of Corporate Climate Change Disclosures | W
Without planning, climate change will bring more Texas-style blackouts | TheHill
Texas Power Grid Was Minutes From Collapse During Freeze, Operator Says | W
Texas governor vows to overhaul state’s electric grid operator after storm failure | R

US
The Big Number: 26.4% | MW

US politics
Covid stimulus update: House Democrats aim to pass $1.9 trillion relief bill on Friday | C

Geopolitics & trade
Biden Trade Nominee Says China Is Both a Rival and a Partner | B

Industries & companies
Aerospace: Boeing 737 Max crashes prompt calls for stronger FAA oversight | C
Communication services: Facebook to Spend $1 Billion on News Content Over Three Years | W
Communication services: Australia passes news media law that requires Google, Facebook to pay | C
Tech: Nvidia (NVDA) earnings Q4 2021 | C

Virus
CDC director: Covid variants could ‘undermine all of our efforts’ | C
Pfizer-BioNTech Shot Could Help End Pandemic, Israel Study Shows | B
In boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world | R
J&J’s Covid-19 Vaccine Is Safe and Effective, FDA Says, Paving Way for Approval | W
Moderna Says Covid-19 Vaccine for South Africa Strain Is Ready for Human Testing | W
The U.S. is making it harder for the rest of the world to get COVID vaccines. | Slate
For Covid-19 Vaccines, Latin America Turns to China and Russia | W

Technology
Foxconn to Build Cars for Electric-Vehicle Startup Fisker | W
Biden to press for $37 billion to boost chip manufacturing amid shortfall | R

Corporate finance
Verizon commits more than $45 billion to 5G spectrum bid | C

Offbeat
Paul Ryan to Join Solamere Capital | W

Feb 24 (Wednesday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
S&P 500, Dow close higher in late session turnaround | R
Key Short-Term Bond Spread Hits Lowest Level in Nearly a Year | W
What the Bond Market Is Telling Us About the Biden Economy | N
Tech Stocks Bounce Back as Rate Fears Ease | W

Central banks
Jerome Powell Sees Easy-Money Policies Staying in Place | W
Powell: Inflation still ‘soft’ and Fed is committed to current policy | C
Powell Signals Fed to Keep Buying Bonds Even as Outlook Improves | B
Powell’s Econ 101: Jobs not inflation. And forget about the money supply | R
Is Fed Chair Powell ‘cool’ with more fiscal aid? Suddenly he won’t say | R
Commentary: The Fed has a simple tool it can deploy to curb market speculation | C

US
As Women Drop Out of Labor Market, Moms Call for More Aid | B

US politics
The $1.9 trillion Biden stimulus plan is moving forward — here are the biggest parts of it | MW
Opinion: Stiglitz: Failing to pass Biden’s relief package would be irresponsible and reckless | NN
Biden Nominee Tanden Hits Rough Patch as Becerra, Haaland Face GOP Questions | W
Senate approves Biden nominees for UN ambassador, Ag secretary | C
White House to Meet With Lawmakers About Chip Shortage | W
Romney Says Trump Would Win 2024 GOP Nomination If He Runs | B

China
How Xi Jinping Is Reshaping China and What It Means for the West | W

Geopolitics & trade
U.S. Treasury No. 2 nominee Adeyemo urges get-tough attitude on China | R
Iran Limits Access to Nuclear Sites but Open to Talks With U.S. | W

Industries & companies
Financials: HSBC Sharpens Focus on Asia, Retreats From U.S. | W
Retail: Home Depot, Macy’s Expect Pandemic Trends to Continue, for Now | W
Tech: Ad tech company PubMatic stock pops 10% in first earnings report | C

Virus
China’s Reckless Labs Put the World at Risk | W
Novavax Nears Covid-19 Vaccine Game Changer—After Years of Failure | W
Future Vaccines Depend on Test Subjects in Short Supply: Monkeys | N

Corporate finance
AT&T nears deal with TPG to sell large minority stake in DirecTV, U-verse | C

Offbeat
Dominion lawsuit against MyPillow’s Lindell definitely not the last, CEO says | C

Feb 23 (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
Tech Stocks Drop Amid Rising Bond Yields | W
Explainer: U.S. Treasury’s cash drawdown – and why markets care | R

US
Consumer Demand Snaps Back. Factories Can’t Keep Up. | W
Why Top Economists Are Citing a Higher-Than-Reported Jobless Rate | N

Inflation
Opinion: Inflation is rising and so are investors’ fears about stocks | MW
The True Challenge With Inflation Is That So Few Know What It Is | FO
Opinion: Productivity will calm inflation this year — these are the types of stocks you’ll want to own | MW

US politics
Covid stimulus update: House advances $1.9 trillion relief bill | C
Yellen, Powell Wary of Financial Froth While They Push Stimulus | B
Biden to revise small business PPP loans to reach smaller, minority firms | R
Biden allies lobby White House to find replacement for budget nominee Tanden | C

China
China’s Online-Lending Curbs to Hit Big Tech Firms and Regional Banks | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: Boeing Tells Airlines to Ground Some 777 Jets After Engine Failure | W
Retail: Activist Investors Nominate Nine Directors to Kohl’s Board | W
Tech: ON Semiconductor CEO expects auto chip backlog to end by third quarter | C

Climate
What’s Really Behind Corporate Promises on Climate Change? | N
Treasury May Be Able to Facilitate Climate Stress Tests on Financial Firms | W

Virus
The U.S. Covid-19 death toll has surpassed 500,000 | C
Pfizer to ship 13 million COVID-19 vaccine doses per week to U.S. by mid-March, says executive | R
Covid-19 Vaccinations Cut Hospitalizations and Deaths, U.K. Finds | W
Moderna moves forward to increase Covid vaccine supply in each vial | C
Declining a Covid-19 Vaccine Risks Penalties in Some Countries | W
New York City theaters to reopen at 25% capacity with precautions, Cuomo says | R

Cryptocurrency
Yellen sounds warning about ‘extremely inefficient’ bitcoin | C

Corporate finance
Goodyear to Buy Rival Cooper Tire for $2.8 Billion | W
Enovix Set to Go Public Through a SPAC in Deal Valued at $1.1 Billion | W

Feb 22 (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

Market
Bond Selloff Prompts Stock Investors to Confront Rising Rates | W
Inflation Angst Is About to Rewrite the Stock Market Playbook | B

US
On the Post-Pandemic Horizon, Could That Be … a Boom? | N
The shape of things to come – Economic forecasters are penciling in heady growth rates | Finance & economics | E
Blue-Collar Jobs Boom as Covid-19 Boosts Housing, E-Commerce Demand | W
Midwest Labor Markets Shake Off Covid-19 Downturn | W
Texas winter storm: Houston mayor says state should pay for high power bills | C

Europe
Northern Ireland parties take legal action against Brexit deal | R
Whatever it takes – Mario Draghi begins the toughest job in European politics | Europe | E

China
China regulator finalizes guidelines on banks’ internet loan businesses | R

US politics
Infrastructure Projects Are as American as Complaints About Their Costs | BR
Under pressure – Andrew Cuomo faces a reckoning for a pandemic-related cover-up | United States | E

Geopolitics & trade
Op-Ed: Biden sought to rally allies in Munich as China influence grows | C

Industries & companies
Airlines: United Boeing 777 suffers engine failure after takeoff from Denver, debris found but no injuries | C
Consumer: Clorox expanding production of disinfectant wipes amid Covid: CEO Linda Rendle | C
Media: The New Disney CEO’s Covid Strategy Leans on Streaming Hits Like ‘WandaVision’ | W
Restaurants: Restaurants and Startups Try to Outrun Uber Eats and DoorDash | W
Tech: Oracle Is Turning Into a Cloud Giant. Why Its Stock Is a Buy. | BR
Tech: Chip Crisis Flummoxes Congress in a World Where U.S. Output Lags | B

Virus
Pfizer-BioNTech Shot Stops Covid Spread, Israeli Study Shows | B
South Africa Covid variant detected in New York resident for first time | C
For Covid-19 Survivors, One Shot May Be Enough, Preliminary Studies Show | W
China Deploys Covid-19 Vaccine to Build Influence, With U.S. on Sidelines | W
Fauci cautions against complacency as Covid infections decrease | C
Grocers Wrestle With Mask Mandates as Pandemic Wears On | W

Climate
The race to zero – Bill Gates has a plan to save the world | Books & arts | E
America and climate change – How America can rid itself of both carbon and blackouts | Leaders | E

Corporate finance
SPACS v IPOs – The Spactacular boom on Wall Street | Leaders | E

Offbeat
Could This Be the Lab-Made Dinner Party of Our Future? | N
Twitter Kicked Donald Trump Out and Its Stock Surged to a Record | B
Bill Gates Says Social-Media Bans Aren’t Answer to Divisiveness | B
Online Speech Is Now an Existential Question for Tech | W

Feb 20 (Saturday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
U.S. Stocks, Bond Yields Rise to End Week | W
Underfunded and Under Pressure, U.S. Pensions to Keep Investing in China | W
Copper prices: Why the commodity may be due for a pullback | C

Central banks
Fed sees ‘considerable’ risk of ongoing U.S. business failures | R
Fed’s Williams say high market prices justified by economic growth and low rates | C

US
U.S. Home Sales Edged Higher in January Amid Tight Inventory | W
U.S. factory activity cools; cost pressures mounting | R
Global Services Economy Moving at Two Speeds as Factories Thrive | W
Florida on ‘fire’ amid NYC exodus, COVID pandemic: Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone | FO
Why Cold Weather Cut the Power in Texas | W
Texas grid operator says it’s now under normal conditions, millions still under boil-water notice | C

US politics
U.S. House Democrats advance $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill | R
Cuomo faces political crisis due to Covid death probe, bullying accusations | C

Geopolitics & trade
U.S. Officially Rejoins Paris Climate Agreement | W
Munich Security Conference: Biden backs NATO in sharp contrast to Trump | C
G7 says to counter ‘non-market’ policies from China to ensure free trade | R
At Biden’s G7 debut, leaders look beyond COVID to trade and China | R
HSBC Doesn’t Have to Give Documents to Huawei CFO, U.K. Judge Says | W
Exclusive: IAEA found uranium traces at two sites Iran barred it from, sources say | R

Industries & companies
Communication services: Exclusive: Facebook and Google could lose bargaining power under upcoming U.S. bill to help news outlets | R

Virus
Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Is Highly Effective After One Dose and Can Be Stored in Normal Freezers, Data Shows | W
Covid-19 Was Spreading in China Before First Confirmed Cases, Fresh Evidence Suggests | W

Climate
UN: Huge changes in society needed to keep nature, Earth OK | P

Technology & cryptocurrency
What Gene Editing Can Do for Humankind | W
Elon Musk calls bitcoin ‘less dumb’ than holding cash | P

Corporate finance
IBM Explores Sale of IBM Watson Health | W

Offbeat
Larry Kudlow’s new show ‘Kudlow’ debuts Tuesday on FOX Business | FO

Feb 19 (Friday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Traditional Analysts Have New Metrics to Compete With the Rush to Themes | B
Lumber prices top $1,000 as single-family housing starts drop 12% | C
Janet Yellen: May be parts of market where investors should be careful | C

Central banks
Fed’s Brainard: Climate Change Already Affecting Economy, Financial System | W

US
Mortgage rates soar to highest level in months amid inflation concerns | MW

US politics
Yellen Defends Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Covid-19 Relief Package | W
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen makes push for major stimulus, sees bigger risk in not doing enough | C
Biden’s Coronavirus Relief Package Has Almost Nothing to Do With the Coronavirus | Reason.com
The Biden Team Wants to Transform the Economy. Really. | N
Should the Feds Guarantee You a Job? | N

Texas
Texas grid failure ignites feud over GOP oversight of energy industry | C
Texas power plants back online, but 325,000 households still in the dark | R

Industries & companies
Retail: Walmart Promises Raises for 425,000 Workers After Strong Holiday Sales | W
Technology: Delta Taps IBM to Move More Applications to the Cloud | W

Cybersecurity & cryptocurrency
North Korea Turning to Cryptocurrency Schemes in Global Heists, U.S. Says | W
Dogecoin whale? Why Robinhood may be the biggest owner, according to reports | MW

Technology
Mars landing: NASA’s Perseverance rover lands successfully on surface | C

GameStop
Citadel’s Ken Griffin defends controversial Wall Street practice, says firm would adapt if it were outlawed | C
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman defends platform’s role in GameStop surge | C

Virus
In Hunt for Covid-19 Origin, WHO Team Focuses on Two Animal Types in China | W
Covid safety: Food and its packaging are highly unlikely to transmit virus | C

Feb 18 (Thursday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow rises to another record led by Verizon and Chevron, but tech weakness weighs on S&P 500 | C
Saudi Arabia Set to Raise Oil Output Amid Recovery in Prices | W
Oil Prices Are Up, but Frackers Stay on the Sidelines—for Now | W
Interest rates will continue to rise, but don’t blame it all on inflation, economists say | C
Interactive Brokers chairman Thomas Peterffy on GameStop frenzy | C
BlackRock has ‘started to dabble’ in bitcoin, says Rick Rieder | C

Central banks
Fed minutes show willingness to steer past coming jump in inflation | R
Fed officials see economy ‘far from’ where it needs to be, minutes show | C
Fed Officials Saw Easy-Money Policies Remaining in Place | W
Fed Officials Saw Bond-Buying Pace Continuing for ‘Some Time’ | B
Minutes

US
U.S. Retail Sales Rose Strongly on Stimulus in January | W
To Plug a Pension Gap, This City Rented Its Streets. To Itself. | N

US politics
Rick Perry says Texans would rather go without electricity than give the federal government more power over them | MW
Biden will ask DOJ to review his authority to cancel student loan debt – White House | R
Democrats Face Intraparty Fight on Minimum Wage | W
Students lament Biden refusal to cancel $50,000 in student debt | C
Biden, Union Leaders Huddle on Infrastructure Plan | W
Universal Basic Income Could Be Coming for Kids | W

Europe
Europe’s Pandemic Debt Is Dizzying. Who Will Pay? | N
Europe Locked Its Economy in Place. Unlocking It Could Be Ugly. | W
One in four UK firms plan to fire staff if furlough ends soon – BCC | R

Geopolitics & trade
Biden and China: Administration Rethinks Relations | N
Biden’s snub of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a ‘warning’ | C

Industries & companies
Airlines: Amazon Air fleet growing fast, could resemble airline: Study | C
Autos: Ford Vows to Phase Out Gas Cars in Europe by 2030 | W
Communication services: Google to Pay News Corp for Access to Its Publications’ Content | W
Communication services: Facebook and Google Diverge in Response to Proposed Australian Law | N

Virus
U.K. Approves Trials That Will Deliberately Infect Volunteers With Coronavirus | W
South Africa Rolls Out J&J Covid-19 Vaccine to Healthcare Workers | W
Pfizer says South African variant could significantly reduce vaccine protection | C
Brazil Turns Sleepy Sugarcane Town Into Global Covid-19 Experiment | W

Offbeat
How the Texas power grid failed and what could stop it from happening again | C
Generac CEO on power generator demand: ‘We can’t make them fast enough’ | C
Workers from home beware – pay cuts might be the price of freedom | R
How to Buy a Real N95 Mask Online | N
Elon Musk is an investment kingmaker but traders shouldn’t blindly follow his every word | NN