Dr. Ed's Blog

Feb 17 (Wednesday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow Edges Up to Record | W
Stock futures modestly lower after Dow closes at record high | C
Why the stock market’s ‘worst-case’ scenario depends on these 3 ingredients | MW
U.S. Oil Output Slumps by Record One-Third as Permian Freezes | B
Lumber Prices Notch Records on Building, Remodeling Boom | W

Central banks
Europe Faces Tough Task in Weaning Economy Off $1.8 Trillion in Covid-19 Relief | W
Fed’s Daly says don’t be fearful about too-high inflation | R

Europe
Covid-19 Variants Outpace Europe’s Slow Vaccine Rollout | W
Mario Draghi saved the euro. Fixing Italy’s economy may be a bigger challenge | NN
France’s Macron Wins National Assembly Backing for ‘Islamist Separatism’ Bill | W

US politics
Covid stimulus update: Democrats focus on passing bill after Trump acquittal | C
Biden to pitch stimulus bill in Wisconsin, U.S. state hard hit by pandemic | R
Wisconsin Covid-19 Response Is Shaped by Political Divide | W
Biden Administration Reviews Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline | W
Biden Administration Extends Covid-19 Mortgage Relief | W
U.S. Reverses Guidance That Impeded Funding for Hudson Rail Tunnel | W
Trump declares war on McConnell, vows to back MAGA challengers | C

Industries & companies
Airlines: U.S. airline passenger traffic fell last year to lowest number since 1984 – DOT | R
Communication services: Artificial Intelligence Will Define Google’s Future. For Now, It’s a Management Challenge. | W
Energy: Energy prices surge as millions in Texas brave storm without power | C
Financials: Goldman Sachs’ Marcus Invest: Investment advice is no longer just for the super rich | NN
Media: Imax CEO: China box-office record reveals global pent-up demand for movies | C

Virus
Dr. Fauci delays timeline for widespread U.S. vaccine availability to May | C
U.S. Vaccine Supply Increasing to 13.5 Million Doses a Week | B
Covid vaccine: Biden administration increases shipments to states, pharmacies | C
Moderna says U.S. supply of its vaccine doses have lagged recently | R
CDC Advisers Weigh Second-Shot Delay to Quicken Vaccine Uptake | B
Lockdowns are killing us | WP
‘We are like captives’: life in Britain’s quarantine hotels | R

Corporate finance
China Blocked Jack Ma’s Ant IPO After Investigation Revealed Likely Beneficiaries | W

Offbeat
Bill Gates roasted for saying rich countries should eat ‘100% synthetic beef’ | MW
Texas deep freeze leaves millions without power, some snowboarding behind pickups | R
Millions still without power in Texas a full day into major freeze, residents left angry | C
SEC sues Morningstar over ratings of commercial mortgage-backed securities | C

Feb 16 (Tuesday)

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 I
Dow futures up 180 points as stocks look to add to record levels | C
Global shares hit fresh peak, oil up on Middle East tensions | R
JPMorgan’s Barometer Says Markets Most Complacent in Two Decades | B
China’s Cryptocurrency Stocks Left Behind in Bitcoin Frenzy | B
From stocks to bitcoin, Wilmington’s Meghan Shue sees troubling trend | C

Markets II
Borrowing Binge Reaches Riskiest Companies | W
Bank of America names the emerging market currencies to back as inflation risks mount | C
Oil hits pandemic high as winter storm pushes demand and poses production risk | C

Global
WTO new leader: who is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria | C

Central banks
Jack Ma’s Ant Group Further Exposes The Fed And Central Banks As Afterthoughts | FO

US
Biden and the Fed Leave 1970s Inflation Fears Behind | N

US politics
Biden Agenda Faces GOP Seeking to Unify in Opposition After Trump Impeachment | W
Biden Corporate Tax Hikes Will Send Jobs Overseas | RCM
Limit on U.S. Debt, Untouched in Democrats’ Covid Aid Bill, Looms Later in the Year | W
Warren’s wealth tax won’t just hit the wealthy | Washington Examiner
Cuomo acknowledges withholding New York nursing home pandemic death toll from lawmakers, public | R

Japan
Japan’s Economy Surges, but Covid-19 Looms | N

Geopolitics & trade
U.S. enters NATO meetings: China and Russia threats, Afghanistan war drags | C

Industries & companies
Social Media: Russia: Elon Musk’s offer of Clubhouse chat with Putin is interesting | C
Social Media: Clubhouse, a Tiny Audio Chat App, Breaks Through | N
Social Media: Parler Resurfaces Online After Monthlong Service Disruption | W

Virus
Incoming WTO head warns ‘vaccine nationalism’ could slow pandemic recovery | R
Covid-19 vaccines might be tweaked if variants get worse | C
After Covid-19 Vaccine, Baby Boomers Grapple With What Activities to Resume | W

Climate Change
Bill Gates Has a Master Plan for Battling Climate Change | W
Bill Gates warns that manufacturing could challenge climate goals | R

Feb 15 (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
GameStop mania may be over, but retail investors are here to stay | C
Yellen’s GameStop Dilemma: How to Let Indexers Freeload in Peace | MW
As Bond Yields Rise, Income Investors Should Be Choosier on Dividend Stocks | BR
Twin peaks – Why the prices of both oil and the metals that seek to replace it are rising | Finance & economics | E

Global
Inflategate – How rising inflation could disrupt the world’s economic policies | Leaders | E
Picking up pace – Inflation will rise in the coming months | Finance & economics | E

US politics
How Biden Can Make Corporate Impact a Force for Good | BR
Biden warms up to the Green New Deal | The Week
Donald Trump acquitted by Senate in second impeachment trial | C
Trump ‘Alive and Well’ as Republican Party Force, Senator Says | B

Europe
UK downplays risk of EU poaching City of London business | R

Industries & companies
Energy: Oil Prices Are Rebounding. Why Royal Dutch Shell Stock Looks Attractive. | BR
Financials: European Banks Use Pandemic to Clean House | W
Industrials: GE has nearly halved its U.S. workforce in 3 years, with more job cuts likely | MW
Manufacturing: Corning Stock Is Benefiting From 5G, New Cars, Smartphones, and Vaccines | BR
Pharma: Upstart Entrants and Booster Shots: How the Pandemic Is Changing the Vaccine Industry. | BR
Tech: Microsoft Urges U.S. to Make Tech Giants Pay for News | W
Tech: Facebook Meets Apple in Clash of the Tech Titans—‘We Need to Inflict Pain’ | W
Tech: Labour coders – Unions take on Amazon and Alphabet. Big tech watch out | Business | E

Virus
The pandemic – How well will vaccines work? | Leaders | E
Covid: CDC director says lifting mask requirements is a mistake | C
Covid-19 Testing Won’t Be Required Before Domestic Flights, CDC Says | W
The Cuomo Covid Coverup | W
U.S. Expresses ‘Deep Concerns’ Over China Withholding Data From Pandemic Investigators | W
UK says it shares U.S. concerns over WHO COVID-19 mission to China | C
Covid-19 Vaccines Aren’t Yet Luring Workers Back to the Office | W

Corporate finance
SPACs, long shunned in Silicon Valley, going mainstream in tech | C
Kuaishou held IPO in Hong Kong instead of U.S. after trade war | C

Cybersecurity
Bitcoin approaches $50,000, wider adoption fuels record rally | R

Technology
Forget Self-Driving Cars—the Pentagon Wants Autonomous Ships, Choppers and Jets | W

Offbeat
Inconvenient truths – Censorious governments are abusing “fake news” laws | International | E

Feb 13 (Saturday)

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
Stock market stoked by stimulus hopes — here’s what investors are counting on | MW

Central banks
Fed’s Kaplan says labor market still far from maximum employment | R

US
Lower-income households dim U.S. consumer sentiment | R
Bidding wars for homes are off the charts as listings fall to record low | C
The Californians Are Coming. So Is Their Housing Crisis. | N
Meet the student loan borrowers who are refusing to pay their debt | C
Covid-19 relief money could affect your taxes and what to do about it | C

US politics
Biden presses for $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan with governors, mayors | R
Biden stimulus plan: Extra unemployment benefits may be coming | C
Covid stimulus update: House advances checks, unemployment boost | C
Yellen Is Creating a New Senior Treasury Post for Climate Czar | W
Most Capitol Riot Suspects Have No Far-Right Group Ties, a Challenge in Fight Against Extremism | W

China
China Hints at a Shift on Climate | W
What Sun Dawu’s Prosecution Says About China | N

Europe
U.K. Economy Suffers Biggest Slump in 300 Years Amid Covid-19 Lockdowns | W

Geopolitics & trade
Yellen urges G7 to “go big” on stimulus, says U.S. committed to multilateralism | R

Industries & companies
Autos: How Car Makers Collided With a Global Chip Shortage | W
Consumer discretionary: Amazon Aims to Head Off Suit by New York Over Worker Issues | W
Consumer discretionary: Amazon Mentor app tracks and disciplines delivery drivers | C
Financials: American Express Acknowledges DOJ Review of Card Sales | W
Hospitality:  Investors eye shares of hotels, cruise lines as U.S. vaccinations pick up | R
Restaurants: Close, Reopen, Repeat. Restaurants Don’t Know What Covid-19 Will Dish Out Next. | W
Tech: Maryland Approves Country’s First Tax on Big Tech’s Ad Revenue | N
Tech: Steve Ballmer wishes Microsoft entered cloud computing business sooner | C

Corporate finance
Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm Protest Nvidia’s Arm Acquisition | B
Coupang, South Korean E-Commerce Giant, Unveils U.S. IPO Plan | W
Electronic-Components Maker II-VI Bids $260 a Share for Coherent | W
The King of SPACs Chamath Palihapitiya Says He’s the Next Warren Buffett | B

Virus
Fully vaccinated people can skip Covid quarantines, CDC says | NN
Recovered Covid patients have been reinfected with new virus strains, WHO says | C
After a Sluggish Start, Vaccine Rollout Is Improving in Every State | N
F.D.A. Agrees Moderna Can Increase Vaccine Supply in Each Vial | N
China Refuses to Give WHO Raw Data on Early Covid-19 Cases | W

Remote school
CDC Presses K-12 Schools to Reopen | W
CDC recommends schools in areas with high COVID-19 transmission rates not fully open for in-person learning | MW
CDC revises school reopening guidance, warns that Covid variants could cause issues | C

Offbeat
‘There’s never been a time like this’: Wall Street is piling into trading cards as prices soar | NN

Feb 12 (Friday)

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
Dow falls slightly from a record as the market’s February rally pauses | C
Stocks edge lower on Biden warning about China | R
Sustainable investment funds more than doubled in 2020 | C

Central banks
Fed’s Daly Sees Central Bank Maintaining Its Bond-Buying Pace Through 2021 | W

US
Forecasters Lift Expectations for 2021 Economic Growth | W
From dismal winter, some U.S. data starts to move higher | R
U.S. labor market struggling, but light at the end of tunnel | R
Surging U.S. Home Prices Gain Momentum as Rally Intensifies | W
New U.S. data next week to show 7.8% of workforce have multiple jobs | R

US politics
Deficit projected at $2.3 trillion for 2021, without new stimulus: CBO | C
Covid stimulus updates: Nancy Pelosi says relief bill will pass by March | C
Cash-in-Pockets Emerges as New Democratic Approach to Federal Aid in Coronavirus Bill | W
Biden Team Pledges Aggressive Steps to Address Chip Shortage | B

Europe
Italy: Mario Draghi wins backing of Five-Star Movement | C

China
Tencent Executive Held by China Over Links to Corruption Case | W

Geopolitics & trade
China will ‘eat our lunch,’ Biden warns after clashing with Xi on most fronts | R
As Huawei Talks Stall, Detention of Two Canadians in China Drags On | W

Industries & companies
Airlines: United returns Boeing 737 Max to commercial service after grounding | C
Autos: General Motors invests $100 million in two U.S. plants to boost transmission production | C
Health Care: How Much Does a C-Section Cost? At One Hospital, Anywhere From $6,241 to $60,584. | W
Pharma: Drugmakers Look for New Ways to Test Covid-19 Vaccines | W
Social Media: India warns U.S. social media firms after dispute with Twitter | R

Cybercurrency & cryptocurrency
White House Names Cybersecurity Expert to Lead Response to SolarWinds Hack | W
Bitcoin donations surge to jailed Kremlin critic Navalny’s cause – data | R
Bitcoin to Come to America’s Oldest Bank, BNY Mellon | W

Corporate finance
Apollo’s LifePoint in Talks to Buy Ardent Health Services | W
Bumble Stock Surges More Than 70% in Market Debut | W

Virus
How CVS and other retailers will dole out any surplus Covid vaccine doses | C
Roche arthritis drug reduces death in hospitalized patients with severe Covid, Oxford researchers say | C

Offbeat
GameStop Mania Is Focus of Federal Probes Into Possible Manipulation | W
Clubhouse and Social Audio Apps Are Having a Moment—Is It All Talk? | W
Another Remote-Work Year Looms as Office-Reopening Plans Are Delayed | W
Is My Stimulus Payment Taxable? And Other Tax Questions | N

Feb 11 (Thursday)

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
Stock futures dip after Dow closes at record level | C
Is the stock market due for a correction in 2021? Here’s what some experts think | MW
Markets tap brakes on asset rise after getting ahead of recovery | R

Central banks
Fed’s Powell Signals Easy Money Policies to Remain in Place for a While | W
Powell Urges ‘Society-Wide’ Push to Deliver Full Employment | B

US
America Went on a Borrowing Binge, but Banks Were Left Out | W
New child tax credit may mean more money than $1,400 stimulus checks | C
‘I Did Something Useful’: Unemployed Workers Take On the Virus in Temp Jobs | N
Study author: Why the minimum wage can’t be raised to $24

US politics
Yellen says Treasury will fight misuse of cryptocurrencies, foster innovation | R

Geopolitics & trade
Iran produces uranium metal, IAEA says, in latest breach of deal | R
TikTok Sale to Oracle, Walmart Is Shelved as Biden Reviews Security | W
Biden unveils Pentagon group to evaluate U.S. strategy for dealing with China | C

Industries & companies
Technology: What’s causing the chip shortage affecting PS5, cars and more? | C

Corporate finance
Match Group seeks expansion beyond dating with $1.7 billion acquisition: CFO | C

Virus
Double Masks Offer Significantly Better Protection, CDC Study Finds | W

Feb 10 (Wednesday)

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
S&P 500, Dow Close Lower After Records | W
Is the stock market due for a correction in 2021? Here’s what some experts think | MW
GameStop breaks below $50 a share as short squeeze comes to an end | C

US
U.S. job openings rise in December; small businesses desperate for workers | R
Inflation likely increased slightly in January, bolstered by rising gas prices | C
Covid-19 Mortgage Relief Ends Soon for Millions of Homeowners | W
Cash flush Americans buying shares as pandemic limits spending options | R

US politics
The Clash of Liberal Wonks That Could Shape the Economy, Explained | N
Biden, meeting business leaders, backs stricter income limits for stimulus checks | R
$1,400 stimulus checks: Who may qualify based on Democrats’ new plan | C
Biden’s OMB pick cites concern about China’s adherence to trade rules | R
U.S. House panels to vote on $57 billion boost for transportation | R
Senators vote to proceed with Trump’s impeachment trial, but conviction may be elusive | R

China
China’s registered number of newborns drops 15% amid population decline fears | NN
Clubhouse Cracked China’s Firewall. A People Shined Through. | N

Geopolitics & trade
Huawei Files U.S. Lawsuit Disputing That It Is a Security Threat | W
North Korea’s Kim lays out paths to take with South Korea, external affairs | R

Industries & companies
Aerospace: Boeing delivers 26 planes in January as cancellations continue to outpace new sales | C
Media: How Disney+ Became a Streaming Service Heavyweight | W

Corporate finance
French Bank Natixis, Plagued by Setbacks, to Go Private in $4.5 Billion Deal | W
Match Group Buys South Korean Social-Media Company for $1.73 Billion | W

Virus I
Brutal Covid-19 Surge in the U.S. Weakens Significantly | W
Widespread Covid vaccines will be available in the spring, says Walgreens exec | C
Covid vaccine: J&J CEO says people may get annual shots for the next several years | C
Nearly half of adult Americans say they intend to receive a Covid vaccine, CDC study finds | C
Covid vaccine: 60% of nursing home staff refused shots, Walgreens exec says | C

Virus II
The World Is Still Battling Polio. What That Warning Means for Covid-19. | W
Coronavirus Likely Came From Animal, Not Leaked From Laboratory, WHO Says | W

Cybersecurity & cryptocurrency
A Hacker Tried to Poison a Florida City’s Water Supply, Officials Say | WIRED
Florida lye-poisoning attack shows cybersecurity gaps in water systems | C
Op-ed: The SolarWinds hack is a blow. The U.S. must prioritize cybersecurity now | C
Why Bitcoin Hasn’t Gained Traction as a Form of Payment | W
Why did Tesla buy bitcoin? | MW

Regulation
A ‘full-fledged assault’ by regulators will hit Facebook: Paul Meeks | C

Offbeat
Most Salesforce Employees to Work Remotely at Least Part Time After Pandemic | W
A return to the office may be coming as vaccinations increase | C

Feb 09 (Tuesday)

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
Reddit rebellion is a sign of ‘irrational exuberance:’ Ed Yardeni | C

Markets
Dow jumps more than 200 points to a record, six-day winning streak is best since August | C
The S&P 500 is on track for surprise earnings growth, and Disney waits on deck | MW
The stock market is echoing 2009-10 — and that means a pullback could be near, analysts warn | MW
Global Markets See Inflation Breaking Out to Multiyear Highs | B

Central banks
Fed estimates workers without a college degree can earn $15,000 more | C
Fed to weave ‘inescapable’ climate change risk into bank oversight | R

US
U.S. Budget Deficit Widened Sharply in January, CBO Says | W
Goldman Sachs boosts U.S. GDP estimate, sees relief bill at $1.5 trillion | R
U.S. households expect to boost spending, NY Fed survey finds | R
Opinion | Who Spent Their Last Stimulus Checks? | N

US politics I
Exclusive: Congressional Democrats set to back more than $50 billion for transportation sector | R
U.S. House Democrats set to back $14 billion for airline workers, new airport aid | R
$15 Minimum Wage Would Cut Employment, Reduce Poverty, CBO Study Finds | W
Child Tax Credit Poised for Expansion in Stimulus Bill | W

US politics II
The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election | Time
Trump administration influenced CDC guidance to suppress Covid testing, House panel says | C
Trump impeachment trial: Here’s everything you need to know | C

Industries & companies
Autos: Chrysler, Fiat Dealers Want New Boss to Fix Ailing Brands or Consider Cuts | W
Media: Disney+ will fuel Hasbro gains long after the pandemic is over | C
Media: How Reddit made its Super Bowl commercial in less than a week | C
Retail: Malls Spent Billions on Theme Parks to Woo Shoppers. It Made Matters Worse. | W

Virus
Covid-19 Live Updates: New Cases in U.S. Drop Below 100,000 | W
NY aims to reopen Broadway, large venues, with Covid testing, Cuomo says | C
Astra’s Covid Shot Still Useful in Variant-Hit Areas, WHO Says | B
What If the COVID Pandemic Never Really Ends? | NY Mag
The Grandparents Have Gotten Their Covid-19 Vaccine. Is it Finally OK to Visit Them? | W

Cryptocurrency
Tesla buys $1.5 billion in bitcoin, plans to accept it as payment | C

Offbeat
Jeff Bezos would owe $2 billion in state taxes under Washington wealth tax | C
Google warns pandemic effects could hinder corporate culture in 2021 | C

Feb 08 (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
Reddit rebellion is a sign of ‘irrational exuberance:’ Ed Yardeni | C

Markets
Stock futures higher following best week since November | C
GameStop Frenzy Is Tough Call for Regulators Focused on Transparency | W
Tightening Oil Supplies Inject New Momentum Into Price Rally | W

US
Temporary Jobs Propped Up January Hiring | W
Some Young Americans Fight Economic Unease by Using Stimulus Checks to Pay Down Debt | W
Covid-19’s Hit to State and Local Revenues Is Smaller Than Many Feared | W

US politics
Covid stimulus: Yellen says U.S. could return to full employment next year if relief passes | C
Fiscal stimulus – Why Joe Biden’s proposed stimulus is too big | Leaders | E

Europe
Brexit and the City – Access to the EU financial-services market is not worth the price | Leaders | E

Geopolitics & trade
Biden will compete with China, but won’t take Trump approach | C
From Lightbulbs to 5G, China Battles West for Control of Vital Technology Standards | W
Too close to the sun – What the fate of HNA Group says about China Inc’s foreign ambitions | Business | E

Industries & companies
Autos: Hyundai, Kia shares fall; say not in talks to develop Apple car | C
Consumer discretionary: Life after Jeff – Can Amazon’s next boss fill Jeff Bezos’s supersized boots? | Business | E
FinTech: The real revolution on Wall Street | Feb 6th 2021 | E
Pharma: Biogen’s Alzheimer’s Drug Faces a Big Test. What to Know. | BR

Virus
South Africa halts AstraZeneca vaccinations | C
Covid herd immunity: Biden says getting there by summer’s end will be hard | C
As Covid-19 Vaccines Raise Hope, Cold Reality Dawns That Illness Is Likely Here to Stay | W
States are taking back unused Covid vaccine doses from nursing homes | C

Offbeat
The Coming Alzheimer’s Crisis—and What to Do About It | BR

Feb 06 (Saturday)

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
S&P 500 rises to another record Friday, rallies 4.7% in best week since November | C
GameStop mania may not have been retail trader rebellion, data shows | C
Robinhood’s Reckoning: Can It Survive the GameStop Bubble? | W

Central banks
Fed Chair Powell and Mnuchin collaboration cooled in December | R

Global
Supply chain costs are mounting in all sorts of ways | FT

US
U.S. Employers Added 49,000 Jobs in January | W
Even with unprecedented gains, the jobs market is still struggling to get back to normal | C
The Jobs Crisis Is Broader Than It Seemed | N
Long-term unemployment is rising toward a Great Recession record | C
America’s unequal jobs recovery in 7 charts | Vox
‘Lost generation of unemployed’: Covid hits careers of over-50s | Covid jobs crisis | The Guardian

US politics
Biden wants stimulus checks to be $1,400. How they could be targeted | C
Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package is as much about political optics as economic necessity | WP
Feb. 16 is the next big day for Biden’s economic plan | MW
Biden’s Minimum-Wage Proposal: When Would It Reach $15 an Hour? | W
President Biden pledges to fix racial wealth gap. Here are his plans | C
What’s next for gig work? Biden administration could bring significant changes | MW
U.S. senators propose limiting liability shield for social media platforms | R
Romney’s Child Allowance Would Upend Welfare | B

Geopolitics & trade
China’s SMIC Says It’s Missing Out on the Chip Boom Due to U.S. Restrictions | W
Russia expels EU diplomats, ignores bloc’s call to free Navalny | R

Industries & companies
Autos: Kia Seeks Partners to Build Apple Car in Georgia | W
Consumer discretionary: Amazon’s U.S. Tax Costs Jumped in 2020. It Likely Would Pay Even More Under Biden Plan. | W
Financials: Venmo’s Debt-Collection Practices Probed by CFPB | W

Virus
Covid-19 Vaccine Shortage Sparks Fights Over Who Should Get First Shots | W
Countdown to ‘catastrophe:’ Inside Europe’s fight for COVID shots | R
AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Effective Against U.K. Variant in Trial | W

Remote work & school
Employees working from home are putting in longer hours than before the pandemic | NN
Chicago Teachers Union reports deadlock in talks to reopen schools during pandemic | R

Corporate finance
Led by ‘Mr. SPAC,’ Credit Suisse Cashes In on Blank-Check Spree | W
Former Trump officials Wilbur Ross and Larry Kudlow form SPAC