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Living wills of major banks in the U.S. under Dodd-Frank legislation
05/10/2012
The "orderly liquidation authority" of the FDIC and the U.S. Federal Reserve under the Dodd-Frank legislation provides a framework for bank resolution in the event of a crisis- something lacking in the 2008 financial crisis when Lehman Brothers collapsed. The largest finanial firms are required to write living wills so that orderly resolution can take place. Nine of the largest finacnial firms in the U.S. including Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and UBS, have submitted the wills to the Fed and the FDIC.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 05/10/2012
Banks' 'Living Wills' UnveiledWall Street Journal 07/03/2012
Criticism of Japan's central bank on the lack of an activist monetary policy to support economic growth 2010-2012
05/07/2012
Shinzo Abe of the LDP, the leading candidate for prime minister after general elections in Dec. 2012, says he will appoint a new central bank chief who supports an activist monetary policy. Abe supports the BOJ setting an inflation target of 2% compared to the 1% under current Bank of Japan chief Shirakawa. Both the governing DPJ and the LDP parties are strongly critical of Shirakawa and prefer to see an activist stance against deflation similiar to the one Ben Bernanke is taking against unemployment in the U.S. Abe returns to power after becoming LDP prime minister following the government of Junichiro Koizumi.
Linked Articles
Vote Challenges Japan's Central Bank
Wall Street Journal 12/13/2012
Pressure Rises on BOJ to Reach Inflation TargetWall Street Journal 05/07/2012
Traders at JP Morgan Chase bank's Chief Investment Office- were they hedging risk or simply making wild bets and taking purely speculative positions
04/10/2012
As speculative positions these were trades that were massive bets on money loaned out by depositors. The CIO manages $350 billion in assets.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 05/20/2012
Making Waves Against 'Whale'Wall Street Journal 04/10/2012
Deutsche Bank's hit to its image in Germany with legal settlements and ongoing investigations 2009-2013
03/21/2012
The criminal investigation into alleged tax fraud in trading of carbon emissions certificates, the raid at Deutsche Bank's Frankfurt headquarters in Dec. 2012, and arrest of some senior executives, continues problems with the bank's image in Germany since the 2008 financial crisis. Deutsche Bank's was highly leveraged during the 2008 financial crisis and is perceived as contributing to the crisis. Changing the culture at the bank is likely to take more than the introduction of the new co-CEO arrangement in mid 2012 with Anshu Jain and Jurgen Fitschen, say experts. Germany's judiciary was critical of Fitschen for not respecting the independence of the judiciary and understanding the separation of powers for a call he made protesting the raid in the investigation.
Linked Articles
Image Remake Suffers Hit at Deutsche Bank
Wall Street Journal 12/20/2012
Deutsche Bank Lists Litany of Legal RisksWall Street Journal 03/21/2012
The risks facing Spain in 2012 with austerity measures when unemployment is at 23%
03/06/2012
Finance Minister Luis de Guindos sees Spain loosing either way with spending cuts that worsen high unemployment and lower economic growth leading to a worsening debt to GDP ratio in 2012, and this situation in turn raising its borrowing costs on $86 billion in debt issuance for 2012. He estimates the debt to GDP ratio will increase under the 2012 budget of 27 billion euros in cuts and an economy shrinking by 1.7% in 2012, by 10% from 2011 to 78%. Markets are focussing on debt in Portugal and Spain in 2012, after focussing on Greece and Italy in 2011.
Linked Articles
Spain Faces Risks in Budget Refit
Wall Street Journal 04/03/2012
Spain Struggles to Unite Regional Leaders on CutsNew York Times 03/06/2012
BP stays in the Gulf after the Gulf Oil Spill
03/03/2012
BP executives say BP plans to invest $4 billion each year in oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico for the next decade, 2012-20122. Investments will be made in safety for deep water drilling.
Linked Articles
BP Expects to Spend $4 Billion a Year in Gulf
Wall Street Journal 04/30/2012
BP, plaintiffs reach Gulf of Mexico oil spill settlement - The Washington PostWashington Post 03/03/2012
Michael Boskin's call for a free trade agreement between India and Pakistan and the current state of trade
03/01/2012
The trade between India and Pakistan was about $2.7 billion in 2011 between neighbors India and Pakistan compared to trade of about $60 billion between India and Pakistan.
Linked Articles
Pakistan to Ease India Trade Limits
Wall Street Journal 03/01/2012
A Passage to India-Pakistan PeaceWall Street Journal 04/16/2012
Greece and EU in 2015- (4) How are the structural issues such as tax evasion in Greece being tackled, after Monti's effort to tackle this in Italy in 2012?
02/18/2012
Surprisingly the Syriza government in 6 months in office did not come up with a plan to implement for tax evasion. This was a major issue for the IMF and in Greece's interest, even though it was going contrary to long standing practice in Greece as it was in Italy. Estimates of lost revenue are about $11 billion each year for tax evasion. By comparison the IMF payment due was less than $2 billion on June 30, 2015. Sustainable long term finances make this a major issue in Greece's own interest. Greece has an aging population and the number of retirees are growing in relation to young working people making this an important issue for stable finances under any administration, and regardless of the euro.
Linked Articles
How Greek tax evasion sunk the global economy
Washington Post 07/10/2012
A Hollow Target for Greek DebtWall Street Journal 02/18/2012
India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, and efforts to balance inflation goals with the need to stimulate growth in 2012
02/14/2012
The RBI made a rate cut of 0.5 percentage point in April 2012, following a series of rate increases in 2010-2011 to control inflationary pressures. The RBI governor Devi Subbarao's view is that the government which faces a lack of political leadership and state elections needs to do more to increase growth.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 04/18/2012
Indian Central Banker Hits His Government's SpendingWall Street Journal 02/14/2012
Kodak's slow struggle to reinvent itself since 2000, and the succesful effort at reinventing itself of Fuji Films in Japan
01/20/2012
Kodak Labs scientists continue to look for new applications for its patents and technologies at Eastman Kodak Park in Rochester, New York. A more successful effort at reviving the company in the face of technological obsolescence was made by its rival Fuji Films in Japan since 2000.
Linked Articles
At Kodak, Clinging to a Future Beyond Film
New York Times 03/20/2015
Fujifilm Thrived by Changing FocusWall Street Journal 01/20/2012
Looking behind the unemployment numbers to better guage unemployment levels in the U.S. in 2011-2013
12/12/2011
Including the long term unemployed who quit working after months of furitless searching gives a better sense of the real level of unemployment in the U.S. Reconciling the Establishment Survey with the Household Survey using the third measure developed by the Labor Department which adjusts for multiple jobs held by one person and self employed farm workers, and adjusting for weather conditions, also helps give a better picture.
Linked Articles
Number of the Week: Did U.S. Actually Shed 195,000 Jobs in July?
Wall Street Journal 08/04/2012
Wonkbook: The real unemployment rate is 11 percent - The Washington PostWashington Post 12/12/2011
The situation in Athens, Greece, in Dec. 2011, with the German insistence on strict austerity measures
11/27/2011
The likelihood that Greeks would vote against austerity measures as a condition for staying in the euro, if a referendum were held as proposed.
Linked Articles
Greeks Balk at Paying New Property Tax
New York Times 11/27/2011
The Spirit of EnterpriseNew York Times 12/01/2011
China's move forward with nuclear energy after the Fukushima nuclear accident
10/10/2011
A move away from coal used for electricity supplies towards nuclear energy. The increase planned is from 11 gigawatts of nuclear energy in 2012 to 40 gigawatts by 2015 and 60-70 gigawatts by 2020. Five nuclear energy projects will be planned at a cost of $27 billion with financing help from a Shanghai IPO offering in 2012.
Linked Articles
China Nuclear Firm Plans Up to $27 Billion IPO
Wall Street Journal 06/06/2012
China Marches On With Nuclear Energy, in Spite of FukushimaNew York Times 10/10/2011
Spain's recapitalization of Bankia Bank with 9 billion euros in May 2012
05/07/2012
Linked Articles
Spain to Recapitalize Bankia in Latest Bailout
Wall Street Journal 05/24/2012
Rodrigo Rato Resigns as Executive Chairman of BankiaNew York Times 05/07/2012
Middle aged Americans and the unemployment rate
05/05/2012
About 3.5 million Americans between the ages of 45-64 unemployed as of May 2012, unemployment being higher for middle aged Americans than younger people.
Linked Articles
For Middle-Aged Job Seekers, a Long Road Back
Wall Street Journal 06/23/2012
The incredible shrinking labor force - The Washington PostWashington Post 05/05/2012
Ford's plans to invest $1.3 billion to scale up its manufacturing operations in China
04/06/2012
Expansion of manufacturing facilities in Chongqing with a$600 million investment and a $760 million investment for a new plant in Hangzhou are part of Ford's effort to catch up with other manufacturers in China. Ford's forecast is for a 5% increase in the market each year for the next decade. The risk is that Ford will be scaling up just as the market is slowing after five years of hyper growth, with increased competition in the Chinese market hurting profit margins, and the distance of the Chongqing plant from the west coast of China making it harder to export to other emerging markets.
Linked Articles
Ford to Build New Plant in China to Catch Up With G.M.
New York Times 04/19/2012
Ford Plans to Boost Production in ChinaWall Street Journal 04/06/2012
The U.S. Federal Reserve's March 2012 U.S. bank stress tests and the questions about overoptimistic assumptions
03/14/2012
Experts question the the overoptimistic assumptions for losses on home equity lines of credit, second lien mortgages and legal settlements. The capital ratios for the banks shown under the stress tests of 3-4% indicate high levels of leveraging, one of the principal causes for the banking crisis of 2008-2009.
Linked Articles
Stressing the Bank 'Stress Tests'
Wall Street Journal 03/14/2012
Questions as Banks Increase DividendsNew York Times 03/14/2012
China's Stimulus plan in 2012-2013 and the problem of "uncoordinated, unbalanced and unsustainable development"
03/06/2012
China's premier Wen Biao told the National People's Congress, China's parliament, in March 2012, that it was urgent to tackel the "problem of uncoordinated, unbalanced, and unsustainable development." He called for "an acceleration of the transformation" of the economic model towards consumption and away from exports and infrastructure spending. The accelerated approval of 254 investment projects in May 2012 puts off this task of rebalancing development for China and the world economy. With slowing growth in China and the last Stimulus of 2008 having propelled the housing bubble, the options were limited. A decrease in the reserve requirement by 0.5% in 2012 for China's banks was not expected to spur growth because lending was not expected to increase, as the demand for loans is low. A sharp falloff in growth below 7% was feared leading to the acceleration in investment.
Linked Articles
China’s stimulus policy means trouble down the road - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/31/2012
China Speeds Economic 'Transformation'Wall Street Journal 03/06/2012
The dire need for a free trade agreement between India and Pakistan
03/01/2012
Trade between India and Pakistan was only $2.7 billion. This is smaller than India's trade with Sri Lanka. Michael Boskin, who was instrumental in setting up the North American Free Trade Agreement says trade models suggest that this should be around $50 billion, or 20 times larger, and would bring benefits in wages and economic conditions in the two countries.
Linked Articles
A Passage to India-Pakistan Peace
Wall Street Journal 04/16/2012
Pakistan to Ease India Trade LimitsWall Street Journal 03/01/2012
Failure to tackle tax evasion in Greece estimated at one third of the deficit for 2009
02/19/2012
The implementation of austerity measures in Greece including cuts to the minimum wage hit people with lower wages the hardest. This takes place even as Greece fails to tackle tax evasion by higher income groups such as doctors and engineers. This is estimated by a group of economists who looked at Greek bank records at 11.2 billion euros in 2009.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 07/09/2012
Greek leaders’ priorities questioned - The Washington PostWashington Post 02/19/2012
Britain's role in forging a peace settlement for Afghanistan with the help of Pakistan in 2013
02/16/2012
Linked Articles
Afghan Peace Deal Sought in 6 Months
Wall Street Journal 02/04/2013
U.S., Afghans in Taliban TalksWall Street Journal 02/16/2012
Increasing foreign investment in Indonesia
02/07/2012
Foreign investment in Indonesia increased by 20% to $20 billion in 2011, and continues to grow in 2012. Investment comes from Singapore, Japan and S. Korea and other countries, with investments in the countries plantations, coal mines and in factories producing consumer products for the rapidly growing middle class in a country of 240 million people.
Linked Articles
Indonesian Economy Grows at Top Clip Since '90s
Wall Street Journal 02/07/2012
Foreign Investment Jumps in IndonesiaWall Street Journal 04/23/2012
The cost to Bank of America of the $2.5 billion acquisition of Angelo Mozilo's Countrywide is estimated at $40 billion in 2012
12/27/2011
In many ways the business practices at Countrywide were at the heart of the mortgage and real estate crisis of 2008. The cost of this for Bank of America is estimated at $40 billion.
Linked Articles
BofA's Blunder: $40 Billion-Plus
Wall Street Journal 06/29/2012
OverheardWall Street Journal 12/27/2011
The importance of long term bond buyers to restoring confdence in Italian and Spanish government bonds in 2012-2013
12/02/2011
Large institutional buyers such as insurance companies and pension funds have exited the market for Italian and Spanish government bonds creating a great deal of instability in the market and pushing up yields as aresult fo the fear factor. The need for the ECB to take up large scale purchase of bonds to induce these longterm buyers to return to the market and restore a measure of confidence. The June 28 summit authorized the rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM or EFSF) to make these purchases, but experts say it has only 248 billion euros and needs to go back to markets for additional funding.
Linked Articles
Return of Long-Term Bond Buyers Seen as Crucial to Europe
New York Times 06/29/2012
A Euro Crisis Deal EmergesWall Street Journal 12/02/2011
The beginning of a negotiated settlement of the Afghan conflict through direct talks with the Taliban in 2012
11/13/2011
America's veteran diplomat, Richard Holbrooke- who is known for the Dayton Accords that settled the conflict in Yugoslavia-initiated the early efforts for a negotated settlement with all the warring factions including the Taliban, the ISI and the Pakistan military. After his death in 2010, these efforts were continued by Marc Grossman, a former ambassador to Turkey. The Taliban's willingness to open an office in Qatar and the willingness of all sides to talk directly opens the path to a negotiated settlement.
Linked Articles
Against Odds, Path Opens Up for U.S.-Taliban Talks
New York Times 01/11/2012
Book review: ‘The Unquiet American: Richard Holbrooke in the World’ - The Washington PostWashington Post 11/13/2011
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