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This editorial in the WSJ on John Kasich, points to Ohio Governor Kasich's strong record of growth in Ohio and low unemployment, surpassing all other midwestern states, as a reason for voters to consider Kasich for president. It points to Kasich's re-election win by 31 points in 2014, carrying 86 of 88 Ohio counties as another reason to consider Kasich, as Ohio is the key swing state in a U.S. presidential election. Kasich also has the unique combination of having worked in Congress helping develop a balanced budget in the Clinton presidency, and in balancing the budget in Ohio leaving a $2 billion surplus after he found only 89 cents in the rainy day fund when he became governor. Jeb Bush and Walker lack experience in Congress.

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The story of Ronald Read of Brattleboro, Vermont, grabbed public attention as a gas station and J.C. Penney employee whose account holdings showed $8 million when he passed away recently. His largest holding - Wells Fargo bank. Investors are attracted to the higher dividends paid by Wells Fargo. With its focus on mortgage lending and less money tied up in trading, Wells Fargo has performed better than its peers. Increased regulatory scrutiny has increased costs for banks with a focus on trading. Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase also paid large fines to regulators. Wells Fargo has no legal settlements with the U.S. Justice Department. As the U.S. economy stages a recovery investors are attracted to Wells Fargo. With a decline in the shares of ICBC, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Wells Fargo now is the largest bank by market value in the world.

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Huawei shows a strong first half 2015 for smartphone sales. Smartphones priced over $300 sales for Huawei were up 70% in the first half of 2015. Huawei plans to launch a Nexus phone with Google Inc. in 2015. Smarphone shipments were 48.2 million units for the first half 2015. By comparison Xiaomi sold 34.7 million smartphones in the first half of 2015. Huawei has gained brand name recognition and passed Xiaomi in sales. Of the 48.2 million smartphones sales of Huawei 20 million were in markets outside China, increasing competition for Apple and Samsung. Huawei now has 7.9% market share worldwide for the 2nd quarter 2015, according to TrendForce, in 3rd place after Samsung and Apple. In revenue terms Huawei has nearly doubled sales revenue in smartphones because of more phones in the higher price range, going from the $3.87 billion in first half 2014 to $7.23 billion in first half 2015. This strategy is evident in Europe where Huawei has invested in brand recognition by sponsoring soccer teams. In just one quarter from the 1st quarter 2015 to the second quarter Huawei has doubled market share in Western Europe from 3% to 6% in smartphones, according to research firm Canalys. ...

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Ms. Irurita, founder of Made for Spain, custom trip planner, describes the Asturias region in northern Spain as one of the less discovered areas with wonderful beaches and the Picos de Europa mountain range, good food and mountain cheeses, with lower prices.

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Syriza party's young leader Alexis Tsipras retains popularity even as Greece accepts the third bailout program from the EU with conditions for pension reform and tax changes. He now says some of the pension reforms were necessary even in the absence of the bailout conditions, saying it is not normal for someone to retire at age 45 or 50. He also says that he is fighting tax evasion so that the rich pay their share of taxes. The mainstream parties have lost confidence because the programs did not ensure a equitable sharing of tax and other measures, and more of the burden falling on the poor. In contrast to Portugal where the tax burden is shared more equitably, more of the burden in Greece has fallen on the poor and less affluent.

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An analysis by the Wall Street Journal shows that on July 9, 2015, with the market plunge only 3.2% of companies traded normally. The rest of the shares for the Shanghai and the Shenzhen Stock Exchanges were suspended or hit a daily limit for declines. 51% of companies took themselves off the market, and 46% halted trading because of limit rules.

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The marketing of the iPhone 6 in the U.S., China and global markets helps Apple widen its lead over competitors in 2015. Apple sales were 47.5 million iPhones in the 2nd quarter 2015, increasing by 35% over the prior year quarter. Apple is also gaining sales from buyers switching from Android phones. Apple's iPhone sales now make up 63% of its sales, compared with 53% in the same quarter in 2014. Sales of iPhones increased 59% to $31.37 billion as the average selling price went up by $100 to $662.42. Apple remained above the fray, and actually increased average selling price to $662, as Xiaomi sold quality Android phones at near cost in China hitting Samsung sales and margins hard, and leaving unsold inventory for Samsung in China. Rarely has a company dominated its business in this manner from the standpoint of profits with only about 20% of the market in smartphones. Apple profits in the 2nd quarter were $10.7 billion, increasing from $7.74 billion in the prior year quarter. The iPad unit sales declined by 18% for the 2nd quarter 2015, the sixth quarter of such declines and fewer customers upgrading. The iPad has also not taken off in the workplace. Mac unit sales were up 9%, even though the PC market declined in units by 9.5% globally for the quarter. Apple shares up 39% in 2015, fell by 6.7% over concerns about slowing China sales....