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Direct From the Editor / On Topics Vital to the Nation

How China's import cuts importing 8.5 million barrels a day down from 12.5 million and it's large oil reserve will keep oil prices low

07/15/2026

Not covered in the media for Hormuz is the combined response of US, China, India, Japan and the European Union to find alternatives to Hormuz making it less or not relevant to oil prices and oil supplies

07/10/2026

The Constructive Aspects of the situation in July 2026 from the Hormuz Crisis not covered in the Media

06/27/2026

Browse Articles or use Lyrarc's US patented "Groups" and "Links" for new insights. A Lyrarc Group of Articles on a topic gives insights into particular angles shown in the Group Title. A Lyrarc Link shows more specific insights for 2 articles.

All Topics Articles

LyrArc brings in selected articles from many of the world's top publications.

Articles are selected by experts and you can see the gist of the important articles.

Opinion | Another Recession Is Looming

  
WSJ - 09.27.2018 Original article ›
Martin Feldstein
LyrArc Article Gist
A former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, Martin Feldstein, says a recession is likely in the U.S. as interest rates rise. He sees interest rates on 10 year Treasury  notes rising from about 3% to 5%, as the Fed pushes the short term rate from today's 2% to a projected 3.4% in 2020. As short term interest rates go up he sees equity prices reflecting historic P/E ratios for stocks. This would lead to a significant drop in share prices and drop in consumer spending, drop in business investment, and a drop in GDP of 2%. 

Because of huge deficits as publicly held federal debt rises from 75% to 100% by 2020, there is less room for fiscal intervention and help through public spending, and with short term rates at around 3% less room to cut rates. This means, says Feldstein, that a new recession would last longer.

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Original article 4 minutes, gist 1 minute

Japan Earmarks Billions to Help Prod Its Companies

1 Groups   
New York Times - 12.18.2015 Original article ›
Jonathan Soble, Jonathan, Soble
LyrArc Article Gist
Sending a message to companies that have acted with caution on investing in human resources, the Bank of Japan announces that it will spend $2.4 billion to buy funds that track the JPX-Nikkei Index 400, a recently setup index of companies meeting high standards of governance and profitability. The bank's announcement says it will buy shares of index funds "composed of stocks issued by firms that are proactively making investment in physical and human capital." Bank of Japan governor Kuroda said a a news conference: "The business environment is favorable, but there are still differences in the way companies have responded. The BOJ is doing what it can to support capital spending and investment in human resources."
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Feds Sue Bankers Over Fall in Bonds

1 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 06.21.2011 Original article ›
Liz Rappaport, Liz, Rappaport, Ruth Simon, Ruth, Simon
LyrArc Article Gist
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) files lawsuits against J.P. Morgan Chase and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for losses suffered on $50 billion in mortgage bonds held by the NCUA. The NCUA is the federal regulator for credit unions in the U.S. More than 40 credit unions failed and a large number have suffered losses and are in a weakened condition because of the mortgage crisis. Because of the losses the credit unions have to pay more into the NCUA fund, pay less on deposits and charge higher rates on loans. About $800 million in damages is sought by the NCUA, which would go to NCUA's insurance and emergency support funds.
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Romney, Appealing to Wider Audience, Recalibrates Message

7 Groups   
New York Times - 09.28.2012 Original article ›
Michael Cooper, Michael, Cooper
LyrArc Article Gist
Romney emphasizes that he supports some of the popular parts of the Obama Healthcare Law such as coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. He tells voters he got everybody in his state insured. He also says there will not be a huge cut in taxes that would worsen the deficit. He would close loopholes and deductions to offset any deductions as shown by his advisor Harvard economist Martin Feldstein. The idea is to get a message across that will resonate with women, minorities, the middle class, workers, and business- the 100%, something he is able to do with some credibility having come from Massachusetts, a liberal state in the eastern United States.
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Sony Sets Major Medical Goals

7 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 10.01.2012 Original article ›
Kana Inagaki, Kana, Inagaki
LyrArc Article Gist
Sony is setting aggressive goals for its medical business by targeting sales of 200 billion yen ($2.6 billion) by 2020. The Olympus joint venture with Sony is expected to make up about one third of the sales. Olympus has a 70% share of the endoscopes market. Sony is planning on sales of 50 billion yen for its medical monitors, printers and other equipment by March 2015. With its recent investment of 50 billion yen in the joint venture Sony now has a 11% stake in Olympus, making it the largest shareholder. Olympus will use half of the capital injection to develop better medical devices and the rest to setup training centers in emerging markets and cover costs.
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Reliance Power in Fund-Raising Talks With U.S., Chinese Banks

1 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 12.28.2011 Original article ›
Saurabh Chaturvedi, Saurabh, Chaturvedi
LyrArc Article Gist
Reliance Power's total capacity is expected to reach 5000 megawatts by Dec. 2012. The company plans to install total capacity of 35,000 MW. It is building a 3,960 MW thermal project at Tilaiya in Jharkhand state, eastern India. Another plant of the same capacity is being built at Chitrangi in Madhya Pradesh, central India. About 75% of the funding will be through debt. Relince is in talks with U.S. and Chinese banks to fund the $8.35 billion for these 2 projects. Loans agreements are in place for $5 billion from the Export-Import Bank in the U.S. and $12 billion from Chinese banks, funding that is coming as part of buying equipment from the U.S. and China.
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Santander Profit Tumbles 98%

1 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 01.31.2012 Original article ›
Christopher Bjork, Christopher, Bjork
LyrArc Article Gist
Banco Santander took a large charge of 3.18 billion euros in 4th quarter 2012 provisioning for real estate losses and Portugal. Profit for the quarter fell to 47 million euros as a result of this. The provisioning for real estate losses in Spain was 1.81 billion euros, and for Portugal 600 million euros. Profits for 2011 went down by 35% to 5.35 billion euros. Profits from Latin America exceeded profits from the rest of the world for the first time reaching 51%. This is part of the trend with Spanish banks to shore up their capital base in 2011-2012 as the Rajoy administration moves to address the problems of Spain's banking sector.
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Qantas Faces Crowded Skies

4 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 01.31.2012 Original article ›
Cynthia Koons, Cynthia, Koons
LyrArc Article Gist
Australia's Qantas airline and its low cost carrier Jetstar is facing new competition on international routes from Malaysian airline Air Asia X. Air Asia X has new promotional one way fares of 60 Australian dollars for its Kuala Lumpur-Sydney route starting in April 2012. Scoot run by Singapore Airlines is also another competitor with 400 seats from Sydney to Australia each day. Virgin Australia is offering 30% lower fares on business class fares for domestic routes covering Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. Jetstar has provided 26% of Qantas earnings in the year ending June 30. So far Qantas has been the main beneficiary from the 50% increase in Australians going overseas in the last 5 years.
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Lasting Budget Fix Sought in Michigan

2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 02.17.2011 Original article ›
Kate Linebaugh, Kate, Linebaugh
LyrArc Article Gist
Michigan's budget director, John Nixon, says the state is better positioned to handle deficit reduction because expenditures rose only 16% from 2001 to 2008, compared with a national average of 50%. Michigan's economy suffered from the decline of the auto industry during this period and careful spending had to take place. Michigan faces a projected $1.8 billion deficit next year. Republican governor Snyder plans to eliminate the state's business tax and impose a flat 6% corporate profits tax that woud reduce revenues by $1 billion, and impose a new tax on pensions to raise $900 million. Also planned are broad spending cuts, including cuts to the earned income tax credit and restructuring public employee benefits.
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Abbott Labs to Buy Indian Drug Maker

8 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 05.22.2010 Original article ›
Peter Loftus, Peter, Loftus, Rumman Ahmed, Rumman, Ahmed
LyrArc Article Gist
Recently Abbott has expanded in international markets with the acquisition of Belgium's Solvay Pharmaceuticals, and collaboration with India's Cadila Healthcare Ltd. for generic drugs. Abbott CEO says he is comfortable with the price of the Piramal acquisition in India because he lost out in a bid for another company in an emerging market a few years ago. Piramal Healthcare will receive from Abbott an upfront $2.12 billion, and $400 million to be paid every year for 4 years beginning in 2011. Advantages Abbott's CEO White sees in this acquisition of Piramal, is that 70% of the Indian market is self-pay. And therefore not subject to government cuts in payment for drugs.
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Where China Hides Its Debt

2 Links 10 Groups   
BusinessWeek - 07.29.2010 Original article ›
Dexter Roberts, Dexter, Roberts
LyrArc Article Gist
Local investment companies were allowed to borrow beyond their limits after the financial crisis of 2008. There are about 8000 local investment companies (LIC's) and they were used during 2008-2010 to get funds quickly to projects. The LIC's borrowed for local governments, and borrowed extensively to build roads, railroads, power plants, and other infrastructure and buildings. Northwestern University Professor Shih has followed this carefully, and estimates LIC debt owed to banks at $1.68 trillion, or 34% of China's GDP. Some of the banks have collateral in land, but many banks are relying on the ability of the local governments to pay back the loans. And some of this is in money losing projects.
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Original article 1 minute, gist 1 minute

No Free Stuff Here: At Angie's List, Members Pay

2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 10.06.2010 Original article ›
Teri Evans, Teri, Evans
LyrArc Article Gist
Angie's List provides information on home improvement contractors and on health care companies. It was started by Angie Hicks after she graduated from Depauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. It has 400 employees and is based in Indianapolis. Sales reached $60 million in 2010, with revenues from membership fees and select advertising by highly rated service providers. It started with Mr Oesterle, a former boss of Angie's in a college internship, and his moving to Columbus, Ohio. Oestlerle had difficulty finding good contractors to renovate a 1920's home, and suggested they work together on this idea of a list of reliable contractors based on personal interviews. The company still relies only on personally obtained information.
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Defying Trend, Canada Lures More Migrants

1 Groups   
New York Times - 11.12.2010 Original article ›
Jason Deparle, Jason, Deparle
LyrArc Article Gist
The experiment with designer immigration in Manitoba province of Canada is unlike that in most other countries. Winnipeg has immigrants from India, Nigeria and other countries- parka dressed diversity where immigrants talk in Punjabi or Tagalog. And Manitoba's people welcome immigrants. With one ninth of the US population, Canada is eager for growth. It gets twice as many immigrants relative to its population than the USA. There is no border like the one the US has with Mexico. and this removes large scale immigration. Canada uses a point system to select immigrants and this convinces the people that it is getting the immigrants that Canada needs. Winnipeg gets about 600 immigrants a month.
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In China, Factories vs. Farms

9 Groups   
BusinessWeek - 04.28.2011 Original article ›
Michael Forsythe, Michael, Forsythe, Luzi Ann Javier, Luzi, Ann, Javier
LyrArc Article Gist
Small shortfall in China's agricultural production can make a big difference in world food prices. A 5% shortfall in China's grain harvest can take up 20% of current global grain exports, according to an analyst at Standard Chartered Bank. China's food imports are small- about 3% according to an economist at HSBC. Just a small increase in the exports as a result of drought can have a large increase in food prices. The use of good agricultural land in places like Shandong province for industry, means more of the agricultural production is being shifted to the drier north, which has water shortages. China's agricultural land is shrinking- going down by 12 million hectares since 2000 according to the government.
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Original article 1 minute, gist 1 minute

Zillow’s Deal for Trulia Driven by Cost Cutting and Corporate Cultures

5 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 07.28.2014 Original article ›
Wsj Online, Wsj, Online
LyrArc Article Gist
Zillow's acquisition of Trulia is supported by the need to reduce costs and spending on marketing. The combined firms will spend $100 million on marketing in 2014, according to CFO Aggarwal. Aggarwal says antitrust issues are not a concern as Zillow and Trulia only get about 4-5% of the $12 billion real estate agents spend on advertising each year. As the deal wil close by 2015 this gives the two firms time to absorb recent acquisitions by Trulia of Market Leader and Zillow's acquisition of New York city centred StreetEasy and apartment HotPads. Both sites will continue as different brands servicing different parts of the market and reducing spending on technology and marketing.
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Maker of Costly Hepatitis C Drug Sovaldi Strikes Deal on Generics for Poor Countries

2 Groups   
New York Times - 09.15.2014 Original article ›
Gardiner Harris, Gardiner, Harris
LyrArc Article Gist
Gilead Sciences contracts with seven Indian generics drug makers to provide Hepatitis drug Sovaldi at $10 a pill for a 24 week course. These Indian companies will pay royalties to Gilead Sciences and supply the market in poor countries. There are about 350,000 deaths from Hepatitis C each year, most of them in middle income or poor countries. Worldwide about 180 million people are infected with Hepatitis C. There is intense criticism for the $1000 a pill charged for Sovaldi in the U.S., with $10 billion in sales for 2014 already set for the new drug's 12 week regimen that costs about $84,000. Gilead spends about 19% of sales on R&D.
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Chinese debt: A moral deficit

1 Links   
Economist - 10.17.2014 Original article ›
Economist.Com
LyrArc Article Gist
The fragility of the financial system is cited as one of the risks for China by Standard & Poors, and by the IMF in 2014. After 2008 total debt including government, corporate and household jumped by 100% to reach 250% by 2014, according to the Economist. The complacency, poor statistics showing bad debt at low levels, the tendency for local governments to continue old practices, dependence on the state to pick up the tab when companies run into losses, or for bad debt at banks, papering over bad loans with new loans, and corruption with close connections between state owned companies and the state, create a situation in which this problem continues to grow.
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Original article 5 minutes, gist 1 minute

Germany Planning Quotas for Women in Boardrooms

5 Groups   
New York Times - 11.26.2014 Original article ›
Alison Smale, Alison, Smale
LyrArc Article Gist
A bill requiring that women make up 30% of nonexecutive supervisory board members of 100 companies by 2016 is likely to pass in the German parliament in Dec. 2014. Women make up 22% of the supervisory board of 30 companies on the DAX. The new bill requires that companies have to leave the positions unfilled if they cannot find women. France requires 20% of nonexecutive director positions go to women, which goes up to 40% in 2017. Women make up 29.7% of the boards of the 40 companies in France's CAC 40 index, which is up from 12.3% in 2011. The European Union has set a goal of 40% women on boards by 2020.
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Tesla May Run Slow on Cheap Gas

2 Links 6 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 12.05.2014 Original article ›
Justin Lahart, Justin, Lahart
LyrArc Article Gist
Lahart reminds readers that the Model 3 from Tesla at $35,000, half the price of $70,000 for a basic Model S in 2014, will not be out till 2017. Models for share price targets of over $200 for Tesla assume the car company will sell these models in large numbers, a Barclays model assuming 350,000 of these cars sold by 2020. It is hard to predict the future for gas prices. In the current environment sales of electric vehicles and popular hybrids such as the Toyota Prius are declining. Tesla faces real challenges considering that gas prices though unpredictable face continuing increases in the development of lower cost shale supplies with new technologies in the future.
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The Giant Hole in Germany’s Economy: Startups

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 03.05.2015 Original article ›
Friedrich Geiger, Friedrich, Geiger
LyrArc Article Gist
Experts say entrepreneurs are seen negatively in Germany and a startup failure is likely to be seen as a problem in a resume. Yet many of the small companies with less than 50 million euros in sales were started in the early post war period decades before. These companies with less than 500 employees employ about 60% of German employees, showing their importance. Social Democrats Economics minister Sigmar Gabriel is promoting the idea of increased funding for startups by venture capital and private equity funds, by increasing tax breaks for startups. Germany's Federal Statistics Office figures show 87,000 new companies registered in 2014 through Novemeber, down 28% from the prior decade and 47% below 1996.
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U.S. Military Ship Readied for Mission to Destroy Syria’s Chemical Weapons

5 Groups   
New York Times - 01.02.2014 Original article ›
Jennifer Steinhauer, Jennifer, Steinhauer
LyrArc Article Gist
The Cape Ray equiped with the technology to neutralize chemical weapons at sea waits for a trip to the Syrian port of Latakia to pick up 700 tons of chemical weapons. The equipment has been tested but doing this at sea is a new effort. The entire process would take 90 days and is expected to start in 2 weeks. There are 35 crew members and 63 additional workers on the ship. At the Syrian port Danish and Norwegian ships will bring the materials to the Cape Ray, and security will be provided by China and Russia. The effort is organized under the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the UN.
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Italy's Renzi Pledges to Pay All Arrears

1 Links 2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 02.25.2014 Original article ›
Christopher Emsden, Christopher, Emsden, Giado Zampano, Giado, Zampano
LyrArc Article Gist
Matteo Renzi wins a confidence vote in the Senate by 169 to 139. His economic plan is to give business a boost. He calls on Italians to free themselves from "cultural subalternity" or inferiority to Europe, and "to dream bigger." The plan is for a double digit cut in Italy's payroll taxes, creating guarantee funds for small companies, and paying all of the money the government owes to suppliers estimated at 100 billion euros. Renzi covered the subject of addressing school repairs costing several billion euros. His new cabinet has half of the ministers as women, some under 40, six from the previous Letta government. The Economy minister is Pier Carlo Padoan, chief economist of the OECD.
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Stock-Market Jitters Put Investors at Ease

8 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 04.14.2014 Original article ›
Matt Jarzemsky, Matt, Jarzemsky
LyrArc Article Gist
Analysts and mutual fund managers say the declines in the U.S. stock market in April 2014 focussing on tech and biotechs is healthy, as values of tech stocks and biotech stocks had gone up too fast. The pause in the market and even declines of 5-10%, as funds shift money to safer consumer, pharmaceutical and neglected large cap stocks, is likely to set the stock market up for further gains in the latter part of 2014, according to many analysts and mutual fund managers. Unlike 2000 and 2007 there are no similiar bubbles in the market, and the pause has helped clear some of excesses which is seen as beneficial, say fund managers.
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Border Dispute Casts Shadow on Li's India Visit

2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 05.20.2013 Original article ›
Joanna Sugden, Joanna, Sugden
LyrArc Article Gist
China's prime minister Li Keqiang visited India in May 2013 with a trade delegation to improve trade ties with india. Trade between India and China is growing rapidly, with the growth in imports of telecommunications and power equipment, and consumer manufactured goods. Trade was at $76 billion in the year ending March 31, 2012 and is expected to reach $100 billion by 2015, making China the largest exporter of goods to India, according to Indian government data. The trade is lopsided with India's trade deficit increasing by 42% to about $40 billion in the last fiscal year. India is seeking improved access for its information technology and pharmaceutical companies to the Chinese market to correct the imbalance.
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Russia's Growth Pace Continues to Weaken

1 Links 8 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 08.11.2013 Original article ›
Alexander Kolyandr, Alexander, Kolyandr, Andrey Ostroukh, Andrey, Ostroukh
LyrArc Article Gist
Russia's State Statistics Committee says growth slowed in the second quarter of 2013 to 1.2%, declining from 1.6% in the first 3 months. Inflation is at 6.4% for August, according to the Economy Ministry. The Russian central bank has resisted lowering rates because of the inflation target of 6%. The Putin adminstration is seeking 4-5% growth, after an average annual growth rate of 7.2% from 2000-2009, during the period of high growth in Putin's first term as president and second term as prime minister. There is a slowdown in foreign investment in the Russian economy, as investors in Europe and the U.S. shift away from emerging markets in 2013. In addition to this commodity prices are declining.
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