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Direct From the Editor / On Topics Vital to the Nation

The role of long range planning and industry working with government in securing the US position in rare earths

06/22/2026

Andy Burnham has the potential to achieve what Clement Attlee achieved for Britain in 1945-51

06/22/2026

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.

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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.

Samsung Phone Folds in Half, Costs Nearly $2,000

  
WSJ - 02.20.2019 Original article ›
Timothy W. Martin
LyrArc Article Gist
The new Samsung Fod smartphone is $500 costlier than the priciest Apple iPhone. It provides a tablet sized phone with glass display that bends in half, so that it can be closed as a wallet and fit in the pocket. It has 6 cameras, can run 3 apps simultaneously and measures 7.2 inches diagonally when open.

In an effort to have a wider lineup at different prices there will be 4 versions of the Galaxy S10, similar to a strategy of Apple to go to a wider lineup.

Smartphone sales have declined for five quarters, including  4.9% decline in the last quarter of 2018, according to IDC. The new versions are an effort to stop the decline.

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Original article 5 minutes, gist 1 minute

Tax and Spend the L.B.J. Way

7 Groups   
New York Times - 07.21.2011 Original article ›
Robert Dallek, Robert, Dallek
LyrArc Article Gist
U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson was committed to spending on a war overseas and domestic priorties for the Great Society program at home. Johnson struggled with Congress to meet the costs of both. He even suggested a 10% tax surcharge to pay for the war and domestic programs. Dallek says 79% of American opposed a tax increase in 1968. Republican Richard Nixon was elected U.S. president that year.
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Surging Franc Spurs Worries About Swiss Economy

2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 08.04.2011 Original article ›
Deborah Ball, Deborah, Ball
LyrArc Article Gist
The Swiss Franc was trading at 1.09 francs to the euro as investors looked to the Swiss currency as a safe haven in August 2011. The Swiss National Bank cut interest rates to nearly zero and injected more liquidity to reduce the appreciation of the franc. The appreciation of the franc- which appreciated 20% against the euro and 33% against the U.S. dollar in 2011- is a threat to Swiss exporters.
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Hewlett Sends PCs Packing

12 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 08.19.2011 Original article ›
Rolfe Winkler, Rolfe, Winkler
LyrArc Article Gist
Winkler says the Autonomy acquisition could be a useful step in executing H-P CEO Apotheker's new strategy to focus on higher margin businesses, but it comes at an expensive price tag. H-P paid ten times expected revenue for Autonomy, or 20 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. This is too much cash considering that the share price of H-P has dropped by half since February 2011.
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Wall Street's New Watcher

2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 10.03.2011 Original article ›
Liz Rappaport, Liz, Rappaport
LyrArc Article Gist
Benjamin Lawsky, a former federal prosecutor, is the new head of the New York State Department of Financial Regulation. He worked as an advisor to then Attorney General Cuomo in the New York Attorney General's office. He played a key role in the ongoing lawsuit against Bank of America Corp CEO Kenneth Lewis, and helped obtain $60 billion in repayments to investors for their cash frozen in auction-rate securities.
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Bernanke Calls on Congress to Do More

2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 10.04.2011 Original article ›
Luca Di Leo, Luca, Di, Leo, Michael Crittenden, Michael, Crittenden
LyrArc Article Gist
Fed chairman Bernanke estimates the impact of "Operation Twist," will be to bring down long term rates by about 20 basis points, or one fifth of a percentage point. This he said is equivalent to reducing the Fed's benchmark short term rates by half a point. The Fed chairman said he is not ruling out expanding the Fed's portfolio by buying securities, but has no immediate plans for this action.
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For Dispirited French Voters, ‘None of the Above’ Seems Best

1 Groups   
New York Times - 10.14.2011 Original article ›
Steven Erlanger, Steven, Erlanger
LyrArc Article Gist
In the first round of elections for the presidential primaries of the Socialist party in France, Francois Hollande defeated Ms. Aubry with 39 % of the votes to Aubry's 30%. 2.6 million people voted. Polls show a Socialist party candidate would win agianst President Sarkozy in the upcoming election. This comes 15 years after Mitterand and the rejection of socialist candidates Lionel Jospin and Ms Aubry in earlier elections.
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Peter Bouckaert - Watching a new beginning in Egypt

6 Groups   
Washington Post - 01.29.2011 Original article ›
Peter Bouckaert, Peter, Bouckaert
LyrArc Article Gist
The night of January 29, 2011, in Alexandria Egypt, as the Egyptian people of all classes of society, ordinary citizens, overcome massive police presence and tear gas. The writer directs the global emergencies program at Human Rights Watch. He saw firsthand the attacks by security forces of the Mubarak regime on unarmed protestors calling for Mubarak to step down after 30 years of autocratic rule, and the restoration of basic freedoms.
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Sugar Prices Hit New Heights on Australian Cyclone

1 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 02.03.2011 Original article ›
Leslie Josephs, Leslie, Josephs, Caroline Henshaw, Caroline, Henshaw
LyrArc Article Gist
Sugar prices jumped to their highest level in 30 years after a cyclone hit northeastern Australia. Australia is the third largest exporter of sugar, with most of it grown and milled in Queensland. Prices for raw sugar, which is processed into white sugar, jumped by 73% in the past 5 months with demand surpassing supplies in the world market. Prices settled at 35.31 cents a pound in futures markets.
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Gazprom Looks Good for Only a Short-Term Romance

7 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 07.12.2010 Original article ›
Liam Denning, Liam, Denning
LyrArc Article Gist
Gazprom's shares have ratings even lower than BP's. They are trading at 3.6 times 2010 earnings. 40% of Gazprom's gas is sent to Europe. Gas use in Europe is falling. It fell 6% in 2009. LNG use is expanding in Europe as Europe diversifies its energy access- LNG constituted 8% in 2004 and went up to 14% in 2009- with Russian market share dropping from 28% to under 25%.
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Investors Back New China Business News Outlet

  
New York Times - 07.19.2010 Original article ›
Bettina Wassener, Bettina, Wassener
LyrArc Article Gist
CBID or Cai Business Indepth is a new English language service covering financial news and analysis. The company's website is www.cbid.com. An advertising campaign will start this week, and a number of other products such as industry reports economic data is expected. CBID has hired 30 reporters. David Legg, Managing Director of Europe and Asia for the Gerson Lehrman Group, helps connect country and industry expert providers with investors.
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Spain's Fate in the Hands of The ECB

5 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 04.05.2012 Original article ›
Richard Barley, Richard, Barley, Simon Nixon, Simon, Nixon
LyrArc Article Gist
Spain's bond auction on April 3, 2012 for 2.59 billion euros showed yields up by one percentage point to 5.7% on its 10 year bonds. Spain's banks are using funds borrowed from the ECB under its Long Term Financing Operation to buy Spain's government bonds. Spanish banks bought 39 billion of government bonds in Jan and Feb 2012. Spain has raised so far 47% of the planned funding for 2012.
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ABCs of Economic Renewal

  
Wall Street Journal - 04.19.2012 Original article ›
David Wessel, David, Wessel
LyrArc Article Gist
After working on improving schools in large cities like Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans, Paul Vallas is working on improving the school system in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Bridgeport is typical of parts of America's industrial areas, which now face shortage of funds and failing schools. Dropout rates in the school system are between 23-45%. And only 10% of tenth graders can read and do math to meet the state standards.
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J.C. Penney Posts Loss; Stock Slumps

4 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 05.15.2012 Original article ›
Nathalie Tadena, Nathalie, Tadena
LyrArc Article Gist
Penney's sales fell by 20% in its fiscal first quarter for 2012. Penney is going through a transformation from a promotional retailer to one that focuses on everyday value and presentation, under Ron Johnson, former Apple executive for retail stores. As part of the restructuring Penney will reduce staff by 15% at its Plano, Texas headquarters. Penney showed a loss of $163 million for the quarter, including restructuring costs.
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Gulliver's Travails at HSBC

7 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 05.12.2011 Original article ›
Simon Nixon, Simon, Nixon
LyrArc Article Gist
The impact of HSBC's large deposit base on the banking operations. HSBC has $1.2 trillion in deposits and $1 trillion in assets, and $100 billion still there for lending before it hits the 90% loan to deposit ceiling set by the bank. Nixon says this large deposit base may have led HSBC into a badly planned international expansion and the disastrous acquisition of Household Finance leading to loss of $15 billion.
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Finding Utility in Indian Autos

5 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 07.22.2014 Original article ›
Abheek Bhattacharya, Abheek, Bhattacharya
LyrArc Article Gist
After declining sales in 2013, India's auto industry recovers in 2014 with 13% more car sales in June 2014 than the prior year month. SUV sales were up 17% in June 2014 over the prior month. Mahindra and Mahindra has 51% of the market share for SUV's from Jan to June 2014, according to LMC. Ford Motor has increased SUV sales in China and is pursuing the same strategy in India.
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Hong Kong Government Seeks to Wait Out Protesters

1 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 10.01.2014 Original article ›
Enda Curran, Enda, Curran, Jason Chow, Jason, Chow, Fiona Law, Fiona, Law
LyrArc Article Gist
Actions taken by protestors in Hong Kong on Sept 30, 2014 include bringing the different student groups together. The protestors demand the resignation of Chief Executive Leung. Leung is told by the government in Beijing that no force should be used and to let the protests continue till public opinion swings away from protestors. Leung'se order to use tear gas only increased the protests and had received unfavorable international publicity.
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Shell Picks Refining Chief to Become CEO

6 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 07.09.2013 Original article ›
Jenny Gross, Jenny, Gross
LyrArc Article Gist
Shell's new CEO in 2014, Ben Van Beurden, is from the "downstream side" of refining and chemicals, where there is less tolerance for the cost overruns seen in heavy engineering type oil exploration projects. He is Dutch and worked for Shell for 30 years. He says profits are "too low" and Shell will focus on reduced spending and capital efficiency. Shell is withdrawing from exploration in Alaska and divesting some assets.
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Election Win by Ruling Party Signals Change in Japan

4 Groups   
New York Times - 07.21.2013 Original article ›
Martin Fackler, Martin, Fackler
LyrArc Article Gist
Japan's LDP party of prime minister Abe wins a majority in the elections for the upper house of parliament. Only about 32% of the voters cast their vote, compared to 40% in the previous upper house election. The LDP lacks the two thirds majority required to revise the Japanese constitution. It now controls both houses of parliament, making it possible for prime minister Abe to implement his economic policies.
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Indonesian Top Police Official Is Sentenced for Graft

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 09.03.2013 Original article ›
Andreas Ismar, Andreas, Ismar, Joko Hariyanto, Joko, Hariyanto
LyrArc Article Gist
A Jakarta corruption court gives a 10 year prison sentence to a high ranking police official, Djoko Susilo. Susilo headed the traffic police and then the police academy. He was convicted for taking $3 million in kickbacks for procurement of driving simulators used in driver license testing. President Yudhoyono had to intervene to let prosecutors question Mr. Susilo. The Indonesian president made anti-corruption promises during his election campaign in 2004.
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A Slowdown on the Road to Recovery

1 Links 5 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 10.14.2013 Original article ›
Bob Tita, Bob, Tita
LyrArc Article Gist
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers over 10% of the 607,000 bridges in the U.S. are structurally deficient. And 42% of U.S. highways are congested. A poor transportation system makes the U.S. less competitive. The cost to U.S. businesses from a poorly funded and maintained transportation system is about $430 billion more in operating expenses by 2020 and $1.7 trillion in lost opportunities, according to ASCE.
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S.&P. Downgrade Deals Blow to French Government

7 Groups   
New York Times - 11.08.2013 Original article ›
David Jolly, David, Jolly
LyrArc Article Gist
S&P downgrades France's credit rating from AA+ to AA. Government spending at 56% of GDP remains at the second highest level in the EU, second to Denmark. President Hollande has reduced the deficit mainly by raising taxes which is seen as having reached its limit. The French economic growth was at 0.5% for the second quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter, unemployment is high at 11.1%.
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Wealth Tide Doesn't Lift All Boats

5 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 12.10.2013 Original article ›
Justin Lahart, Justin, Lahart
LyrArc Article Gist
Wealth for top 7% of U.S. households averaged $3.2 million in 2011, compared to $133,817 for the other 93% of the population. Third quarter 2013 household net worth is 615% of after tax income, up from 570% in 2012. The uneven distribution of household wealth and the gains from the stock market recovery going disproportionately to wealthier investors, does not provide strong enough underpinnings for robust consumer spending.
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Russia, After 12 Years, Returns to Sell Bonds

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 04.23.2010 Original article ›
Clare Connaghan, Clare, Connaghan, Riva Froymovich, Riva, Froymovich
LyrArc Article Gist
For the first time since 1998, Russia, which has relied on large foreign exchange reserves from oil exports, has issued new sovereign debt. Russia issued $2 billion in five year bonds at 3.625% at a risk premium of 1.25% over U.S. Treasurys. And $3.5 billion in 10 year bonds at 5% with a risk premium of 1.35% over comparable Treasurys. In 2010 Russia expects a deficit of 6.8% of GDP.
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European Banks Gird for 'The Year of Reckoning'

1 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 12.31.2008 Original article ›
Neil Shah, Neil, Shah
LyrArc Article Gist
Analysts are predicting billions of euros of writedowns for European banks in 2009 and 2010 and these will be tough years for these banks. 98 billion euros of impaorments are expected in 2009 , up from 77 billion euros in 2008, according to analysts in a Credit Suisse report. This will present further challenges to European governments which have already injected 70 billion euros to keeo the banking sectors from going under.
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