RSS Feed

Calendar

March 2024
M T W T F S S
« Feb    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Search

Tag Cloud

Archives

Seeking Alpha (April 5)

2023/ 04/ 06 by jd in Global News

“Investors were taken by surprise on April 2nd when news broke that OPEC+…announced unexpected cuts in output. This move came even in spite of a previously rosy forecast for the supply and demand balance that OPEC made public…. Investors would be wise to see this as a bullish development for any company that benefits from higher oil prices. But in particular, the exploration and production companies could be very appealing to consider at this time.”

 

Investment Week (March 23)

2023/ 03/ 24 by jd in Global News

“The UK’s higher than expected inflation results forced the Bank of England to prioritise bringing it down, rather than focusing on the fractures of the banking sector.” In February, “UK inflation hit 10.4%…an unexpected increase that followed three months of consecutive declines.”

 

Reuters (February 4)

2023/ 02/ 05 by jd in Global News

“The global trade war is taking an unexpected turn. Beijing may ban the export of technology used to make solar panels, an industry which China dominates by controlling at least 75% of its global supply chain. That has repercussions for the West’s drive to create its own green energy industry.” Any such move is more likely “to slow, not halt” the West’s solar push. “Losing access to Chinese solar technology, such as furnaces for melting silicon, would not be an insurmountable problem.”

 

Financial Times (September 20)

2019/ 09/ 22 by jd in Global News

“Shock and confusion” resulted when overnight repo rates soared to 10%. The Fed was able to calm markets, but the situation is a reminder. “The more that QE (and its partial reversal) reshapes global finance, the greater the risk that the cogs in the machine unexpectedly misfire. That is no reason to panic. But central bank pilots—like investors—are learning on the job. Better hope they stay completely alert.

 

Reuters (September 16)

2019/ 09/ 17 by jd in Global News

“The last thing the slowing world economy needs is a big and unexpected disruption in oil output.” The drone attacks “took out roughly half of Saudi Arabia’s crude output appear to fit that bill. But even fragile global growth can probably withstand this first cut.” However, if “sustained disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supply–or anything that heightens the risk of them–will buoy crude. That will deliver the deepest cut to growth.”

 

Wall Street Journal (May 20)

2019/ 05/ 21 by jd in Global News

“The Japanese economy unexpectedly grew in the first quarter of 2019 supported by government spending, although there were some worrying signs connected to the U.S.-China trade dispute.” The economic expansion (2.1% annualized) surprised economists who thought “the first-quarter figure would be flat or slightly negative.”

 

Institutional Investor (May 4)

2018/ 05/ 05 by jd in Global News

With an unexpected turn, the Icahn-Xerox battle has grown even uglier. “After surrendering their jobs to a ‘gloating’ Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason, Xerox’s leadership defies the activists and hangs on — for now.” Where the chips will ultimately fall is now highly uncertain.

 

Chicago Tribune (August 8)

2016/ 08/ 09 by jd in Global News

“For Japan, where there’s such pressure to maintain things the way they are, the decision to retire is even bigger. This has the making of an unmistakably modern moment: trying something new, even if it feels uncomfortable. Japan should thank Emperor Akihito for his unexpected decision and wish him a long, happy retirement.”

 

Reuters (January 29)

2016/ 01/ 29 by jd in Global News

“The Bank of Japan unexpectedly cut a benchmark interest rate below zero on Friday, stunning investors with a move aimed at shielding the country’s sluggish economy from volatile markets and slowing global growth.”

 

Time (February 25)

2013/ 02/ 27 by jd in Global News

Seven years after becoming Pope, “his strength is gone, and in a striking, even revolutionary act of humility, Benedict has announced his resignation as the Vicar of Christ, effective at 8 p.m. Rome time on Feb. 28. A figure as controversial as John Paul II was popular, Benedict XVI has yet again flummoxed his many critics by becoming the first Pope in six centuries to abdicate the Chair of Peter. And it is now possible that his most enduring act of public witness to the Gospel will be the remarkable spectacle of a prince of the church voluntarily surrendering the things of this world… an example of Christian piety that was quite unexpected.”

 

[archive]