The Economist (May 11, 2013)
Following the darkest days of the financial crisis, more than a few European bankers and leaders were caught gloating. It looked like the big Wall Street investment banks had been beaten. “Almost five years on it is Europe’s banks that are on their knees and Wall Street that is resurgent.” But this comeback may be a nightmare in disguise. “Indeed, it is American taxpayers and investors who should worry about the dominance of a few Wall Street firms. They bear the main risk of future bail-outs.”
Tags: Bail-outs, Europe, Investment banks, Investors, Taxpayers, U.S., Wall Street
New York Times (May 9, 2013)
Three years of fighting in Syria have cost 70,000 lives. “There are reasons to be skeptical about plans by Russia and the United States to hold an international conference on Syria — diplomats often propose meetings when they don’t have solutions. But, at a time when the civil war is worsening in every way, this initiative counts as a hopeful sign.”
Wall Street Journal (May 9, 2013)
“The yen’s decline signals hopes for a more groundbreaking economic shift: the reversal of nearly two decades of stagnation, weak demand and declining prices.”“The yen’s decline signals hopes for a more groundbreaking economic shift: the reversal of nearly two decades of stagnation, weak demand and declining prices.”
Tags: Demand, Economic shift, Hope, Japan, Prices, Stagnation, Yen
Financial Times (May 7, 2013)
“Pollution in China is now so bad that it threatens to obscure the vision being laid out by Xi Jinping, the new president…. The leadership needs to rethink its national goals. After all, what is the point of rapid economic growth if it creates cities in which it is dangerous to breathe?”
Tags: Air quality, China, Cities, Economic growth, Goals, Pollution, Xi Jinping
LA Times (May 7, 2013)
“The deaths of more than 600 garment workers in Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza factory collapse April 24 is a tragedy that highlights widespread problems in the global apparel industry. But will it be the spark that finally leads to much-needed global reforms?” Not until we quit looking for smoking guns and, instead, look in the mirror. Only then, will we see “the real culprits: the global apparel industry and ourselves for being complicit in supporting or ignoring a system of trade and offshoring largely designed to bypass regulatory policy of every stripe, while putting maximum profit before people.”
Tags: Apparel industry, Bangladesh, Garment workers, Offshoring, People, Profit, Reforms
Forbes (May 5, 2013)
Urging financial institutions to adopt one-size fits all risk models has can be disastrous. “We have real-life proof of the folly in this kind of forced uniformity: the Basel Accords. For years regulators around the world have been concocting uniform risk assessments to judge bank loans. The results of this exercise have been disastrous. Banks had to hold no reserves against government debt yet hold hefty set-asides for business loans. Greek government bonds were seen as infinitely safer than a loan to, say, IBM. Mortgage-backed securities also got preferred regulatory treatment–and we all know where that led.”
Tags: Banks, Basel Accord, Government debt, Loans, Mortgage-backed securities, Regulators, Reserves, Uniform risk assessment
Washington Post (May 5, 2013)
“Part rock concert, part investment workshop, the annual gathering of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders is an odd mix.” This year about 30,000 people attended what has become known as “Woodstock for capitalists.” During an annual highlight, Chairman Warren Buffet and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger participated in over 5 hours of Q&A. This year, “the questions seemed somewhat tougher and more detailed because of the addition of a panel of investment professionals, including Doug Kass, who has a negative view on Berkshire’s stock.” The wide-ranging questions also came from shareholders, journalists and analysts.“Part rock concert, part investment workshop, the annual gathering of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders is an odd mix.” This year about 30,000 people attended what has become known as “Woodstock for capitalists.” During an annual highlight, Chairman Warren Buffet and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger participated in over 5 hours of Q&A. This year, “the questions seemed somewhat tougher and more detailed because of the addition of a panel of investment professionals, including Doug Kass, who has a negative view on Berkshire’s stock.” The wide-ranging questions also came from shareholders, journalists and analysts.
Bloomberg (May 4, 2013)
“U.S. stocks rose to successive records during the week and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index traded above 1,600 for the first time, extending a 2013 rally fueled as individuals and professionals alike increased bullish bets.” And there is reason to believe the rally may continue. “The S&P 500 is cheaper than when it reached a record in October 2007. The gauge is valued at 15.8 times earnings in the last year, compared with 17.5 at its 2007 peak and 31 when it reached a record in March 2000.”
Tags: Price earnings, Rally, S&P 500, Stocks, U.S.
New York Times (May 3, 2013)
“Despite all the questions about whether college is worth it or not, college graduates have gotten through the recession and lackluster recovery with remarkable resilience.” In fact, college graduates have gobbled up most of the new jobs. With employment rising 9.1%, college-educated workers are “the only group that has more people employed today than when the recession started.” In contrast, employment for high-school graduates has fallen by 9%.
Tags: College, Employment, Graduates, High school, Recession, Recovery
The Economist (May 1, 2013)
“Youth unemployment is a big and growing problem.” With a few exceptions, such as Germany, youth unemployment has been grown worse since the 2008 financial crisis. “Globally nearly 290 million young people are neither working nor studying calculates the Economist, almost a quarter of the planet’s youth.”
Tags: Financial Crisis, Germany, Studying, Unemployment, Working, Youth
