The Economist (August 4)
“Earth is smouldering. From Seattle to Siberia this summer, flames have consumed swathes of the northern hemisphere.” And humanity is not rising to the challenge. Three years following the Paris Accord, “greenhouse-gas emissions are up again. So are investments in oil and gas. In 2017, for the first time in four years, demand for coal rose. Subsidies for renewables, such as wind and solar power, are dwindling.” While “it is tempting to think these are temporary setbacks and that mankind, with its instinct for self-preservation, will muddle through to a victory over global warming. In fact, it is losing the war.”
Tags: Coal, Demand, Earth, Emissions, Gas, GHG, Global warming, Humanity, Oil, Paris accord, Renewables, Self-preservation, Setbacks, Smouldering, Solar power, Wind
Bloomberg (July 20)
“What’s next for commodities after a recent price collapse? It looks like more bad news, if the chart watchers are right. The Bloomberg Commodity Index has tumbled about 10 percent from a high in May amid mounting concerns that a trade war could derail global growth, curbing demand for everything from aluminum to soybeans.”
Tags: Aluminum, Chart watchers, Commodities, Demand, Growth, Price collapse, Soybeans, Trade war, Tumbled
Bloomberg (March 9)
“China is cracking down on pollution like never before, with new green policies so hard-hitting and extensive they can be felt across the world, transforming everything from electric vehicle demand to commodities markets.” China is now, by far, the largest global carbon emitter, but the “government is trying to change that without damaging the economy—and perhaps even use its green policies to become a leader in technological innovation.”
Tags: China, CO2, Commodities, Demand, Economy, EVs, Green policies, Hard-hitting, Leader, Pollution, Technological innovation
The Economist (February 10)
“America’s extraordinary economic gamble” is off to a rough start. “Fiscal policy is adding to demand even as the economy is running hot” and, seemingly as a result, volatility is back in a big way. “A long spell of calm, in which America’s stockmarket rose steadily without a big sell-off, ended abruptly this week.”
Tags: Calm, Demand, Economic gamble, Economy, Fiscal policy, Hot, Sell-off, Stockmarket, U.S., Volatility
Wall Street Journal (January 21)
Carl Icahn the largest investor in Xerox has formed an alliance with billionaire Darwin Deason, the third largest investor, “to encourage the printer and copier giant to explore a potential sale…. The fact that they are working together and own such a big stake is sure to ratchet up the pressure on a company that is grappling with slumping demand as the world becomes more digital—and is already considering a major transaction.” Due to its “strategic importance,” the Fuji Xerox joint venture “would likely be at the center of any review.”
Tags: Alliance, Deason, Demand, Digital, Fuji Xerox, Icahn, Investor, JV, Sale, Strategic, Transaction, Xerox
Retail TouchPoints (January 4)
Despite a strong holiday sales season, “a real department store turnaround will demand a lot of work.” 2018 will represent “a major ‘prove it’ period for department stores. The sector has taken quarterly sales hits for several years, forcing major players to shutter hundreds of stores, but early holiday numbers indicate these retailers have harnessed some positive momentum.”
Tags: Demand, Department stores, Holiday, Momentum, Retailers, Sales, Sales hits, Turnaround
Fortune (November 27)
“Mumbai International Airport handled a combined 969 flights on Friday. That’s more than any other airport that operates a single runway has ever handled over a 24-hour period.” With 1,000 flights a day in sight, Mumbai is experiencing rising demand and India is soon “set to be world’s third largest aviation market after China and the United States.”
Bloomberg (April 4)
“Now could be the time for foreign investors to return to Japanese equities, according to Goldman Sachs. Corporate governance reforms, a recovery in domestic demand and the strong performance of local stocks in U.S. dollar terms are all potential catalysts that may lure foreigners back.”
Tags: Catalysts, Demand, Equities, Foreign investors, Goldman Sachs, Governance, Japan, Performance, Recovery
Forbes (October 13)
“China’s export numbers for September are out and they show a fall of 10% in year on year numbers. This has caused global stock markets to stumble…. because the China export numbers are a reflection of demand in the global economy and if that’s weak then the global economy is weak.”
Tags: China, Demand, Exports, Global economy, September, Stock markets, Weak
Wall Street Journal (September 3)
“All across American agriculture, production is up and prices are down.” With bumper crops expected, “corn prices have tanked, dropping to about $2.85 a bushel today from $6.50 three crop-seasons ago.” The Department of Agriculture is stepping in to help farmers with some subsidies and other programs, but what farmers really need is for Congress to “approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” which would boost demand overseas substantially.
Tags: Agriculture, Congress, Corn, Crops, Demand, DoA, Farmers, Overseas, Prices, Production, Subsidies, TPP
