Dr. Ed's Blog

August 02 (Monday)

YRI
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Inflation Is Hot Now, but Investors Are Betting That Won’t Last | W

Central banks
Fed’s Brainard Says Labor Market Hasn’t Satisfied Goals for Reducing Bond Purchases | W
Fed’s Brainard: Can’t wrap head around not having U.S. central bank digital currency | R
Minneapolis Fed president says Delta variant could slow labor market recovery | R

US I
House Adjourns Without Extending Covid-19 Eviction Moratorium | W
Anger mounts as Biden, Congress allow eviction ban to expire | C
Eviction Ban’s Expiration Leaves Renters in South Appearing Most Vulnerable | W
The U.S. Labor Shortage Is Worse Than It Looks, and Help Is Not on the Way | BR
An unemployment cliff is coming. More than 7.5 million may fall off | C
A Care Crisis Is Holding Back America’s Workforce: Secretary of Commerce | BR

US II
Senator Manchin says the infrastructure bill text is going to be done today | C
Infrastructure Spending Is on Its Way. Here’s a Cheap Way to Play It. | BR
Joe Biden’s bipartisan dream lives on, for now | E

Emerging
China’s factory activity expands at a slower pace in July- official PMI | R
Unrest and economic underperformance haunt the emerging world | E

Geopolitics & trade
China is rapidly building new nuclear-missile silos | E
Philippine President Duterte has shown how not to handle China | E
China securities watchdog seeks closer cooperation with U.S. | R
The pandemic has exacerbated existing political discontent | E
Kim Jong Un’s sister warns South Korea-U.S. drills will rekindle tensions | C

Industries & companies
Energy: Two U.S. Companies Seek Continued Tariffs on Imported Solar Panels | W
Energy: Behind the Rise of U.S. Solar Power, a Mountain of Chinese Coal | W
Financials: American Express Stock Could Soar Higher as Travel Rebounds | BR
Media: Disney, WarnerMedia, NBCU wrestle to balance value of cable and streaming | C
Media: ‘Jungle Cruise’ has $34.2 million debut, adds $30 million from Disney+ | C
Tech: Why Apple shareholders after earnings selloff shouldn’t be too worried | C

Virus
Who’s against the jab | E
Fauci expects no new U.S. lockdowns despite surging delta cases | C

Corporate finance
Tech Startup Financing Hits Records as Giant Funds Dwarf Venture Capitalists | W

Beyond markets
Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the folding of proteins | E

July 31 (Saturday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Earnings bounce, bond-yield drop help keep party going for U.S. stocks | R
Global bonds in July notch up best month since 2020 COVID meltdown | R
 
Global
World Economy Caps Extraordinary Return From Covid-19 Collapse | W

Central banks
The Fed’s Favorite Price Index Rose 4 Percent. What Comes Next? | N
Fed’s Powell bets economy will navigate new coronavirus surge | R

US I
U.S. labor costs increase solidly in second quarter | R
U.S. consumer sentiment declines in July as inflation remains concern | R
Household Spending Rose in June, Before Delta Variant Upswing | W
Services buoy U.S. consumer spending; inflation pushes higher | R

US II
Infrastructure Bill Now Faces Restive House Progressives | W
Infrastructure: Senate advances bipartisan bill | C

Industries & companies
Autos: Elon Musk’s Trip Through Hell: Inside the 2018 Scramble to Avoid the Collapse of Tesla | W
Autos: Tesla Battery Catches Fire at Utility Storage Project in Australia | W
Communication services: Google founders Page, Brin, have sold $1 billion in stock since May | C
Consumer: Procter & Gamble Warns of Higher Costs and Slower Sales | W
Consumer: Amazon Hit With Record EU Privacy Fine | W
Consumer: Amazon DSPs tell drivers to bypass safety inspections | C
Cruise lines: Royal Caribbean says 6 Covid cases discovered on board a ship; shares fall | C
Tech: Big Tech dodged Q2 pain from Apple’s ad privacy changes | C

Corporate finance
SEC to Set New Disclosure Requirements for Chinese Company IPOs | W

Virus
‘The war has changed’, CDC says, calling for new response to Delta variant | R
Delta variant: CDC warns as contagious as chickenpox, may make people sicker | C
CDC study shows 74% of people infected in Massachusetts Covid outbreak were fully vaccinated | C
Covid Breakthrough Cases: Bloomberg Identifies 100,000 Cases as Delta Rises | B
Covid vaccine rates rise as Americans rush to get shots amid delta fears | C
Walmart corporate staff, managers have Covid vaccine by October | C

July 30 (Friday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Stocks Rise After GDP Data | W
Wall Street roars to record peak on rosy earnings, dollar wilts | R
China Moves to Reassure Global Banks and Investors After Market Rout | W
Lumber Makers See Comeback of Do-It-Yourself Home Projects – Bloomberg

US
U.S. economy contracted 19.2% during COVID-19 pandemic recession | R
Fiscal stimulus, vaccines likely fueled U.S. economic growth in the second quarter | R
The U.S. economy is bigger than it was pre-pandemic, but Covid could still decide what happens next | C
The U.S. Economy’s Prospects Looked Bright, Until the Delta Variant Surged | W
Growth Is Strong, but the Obstacles to Full Recovery Are Big | N
Is the US Economy Running Out of Slack? by Willem H. Buiter | Project Syndicate
Jobless Claims Resumed Decline Last Week | W

Japan
Japan’s factory output rises, job availability at near 1-year high | R

Geopolitics & trade
‘Industrial Policy’ Is Back: The West Dusts Off Old Idea to Counter China | W

Industries & companies
Consumer discretionary: Amazon Maintains Profit Run, but Sales Miss Expectations in Pandemic First | W
Retail: Toy Prices Are Going Up Ahead of the Holiday Season | W
Retail: Shopping center CEO says foot traffic is back to pre-Covid levels as retail evolves | C

Corporate finance
Robinhood (HOOD) IPO: Stock falls in Nasdaq debut | C

Virus
EU Overtakes U.S. in Covid-19 Vaccines as Delta Variant Spreads | W
Israel to Offer Pfizer Booster Shots to Elderly as Delta Cases Rise | W
Biden Says Federal Employees Must Get Covid-19 Shots or Wear Masks, Test Regularly | W

Beyond markets
Day-care centers struggle to rehire, worry many have left the industry | C

July 29 (Thursday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow Edges Lower After Fed Statement | W
Treasury Yields Edge Higher After Fed Signal on Tapering Bond Buying | W

Global
Covid-19 Keeps Resurging, but Western Economies Are Adapting | W

Central banks
Fed decision July 2021: Rates held near zero, economy better even with pandemic worries | C
Fed Says Economy Has Progressed Toward Goals, Tees Up Bond Taper | W
Powell says Fed likely to taper asset purchases ‘at the same time’ | R

US
Will the Delta Variant Wreck the Recovery? | N
U.S. Senate advances roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill | R

Geopolitics & trade
Biden nominates Huawei prosecutor for key China export post | R

Industries & companies
Consumer discretionary: Amazon is everywhere. Here’s how the US could break it up | NN
Communication services: Facebook (FB) earnings Q2 2021 | C
Restaurants: Wingstop plans ghost kitchens in Manhattan as company leans on digital | C
Tech: Qualcomm (QCOM) earnings Q3 2021 | C

Corporate finance
Robinhood IPO Prices at $38 a Share | W
Citizens Financial to Buy Investors Bancorp in $3.5 Billion Deal | W

Virus
Pfizer’s CEO says Covid vaccine effectiveness drops to 84% after six months | C
Biden Plans to Require Covid-19 Vaccine or Regular Tests for Federal Workers | W
Most Apple stores will require masks regardless of vaccination status | C
Some Republicans Reject Revived Covid-19 Mask Rules in Congress | W

July 28 (Wednesday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Central banks
The Fed could sound more worried about Covid and less ready to tighten | C

Global
Vaccination Rates Drive Global Economic Growth Prospects, IMF Says | W
IMF raises growth forecasts for rich nations, dims outlook for developing world | R

US
U.S. consumer confidence at 17-month high; business spending on equipment strong | R
Durable-Goods Orders Advanced in June as U.S. Economy Continues to Grow | W
Home prices can’t go straight up forever. But this probably isn’t a bubble | NN
Lawmakers Say Infrastructure Deal Within Reach | W

Europe
EU freezes legal steps against Britain after UK request for standstill | R

Industries & companies
Airlines: Airlines Struggle With Fuel Shortages at Some Smaller Western U.S. Airports | W
Consumer: Lysol. N95 Masks. UPS. For Some Pandemic Winners, the Boom Is Over. | W
Media: Alphabet (GOOGL) earnings Q2 2021 | C
Pharma: Big Pharma Quietly Pushes Back on Global Tax Deal, Citing Covid-19 Role | W
Tech: Apple Profit Sets Record on Strong iPhone Sales | W
Tech: Apple’s iPhone hot streak will run into global chip shortage | C
Tech: Microsoft (MSFT) earnings Q4 2021 | C

Virus
CDC reverses indoor mask policy, saying fully vaccinated people and kids should wear them indoors | C
Top U.S. doctors say kids need masks and social distancing in schools this fall | C
No one wants to say it: We need to mask up again | TheHill
Delta variant: Third Covid shot may be way around masking, says Dr. Peter Hotez | C
Biden says vaccine mandate for all federal employees is under consideration following VA order | C
Saudi Arabia to Impose Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate | W
Israel Begins Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine for At-Risk Children Under 12 as Delta Cases Surge | W

Beyond markets
Return-to-office plans in limbo as CDC recommends indoor masking again | C
Return to Office Hits a Snag: Young Resisters | N
Work-From-Anywhere Perks Give Silicon Valley a New Edge in Talent War | W

July 27 (Tuesday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
S&P 500 ekes out another record as investors gear up for big earnings | C
Indexes notch closing record highs as key earnings, Fed meet eyed | R
Inflation, delta risks sparking an ‘inflection point’ for stocks | C
China Tech Stocks Slump as Regulators Apply Fresh Pressure | W

Global
Global growth to stay strong but virus the top risk, say economists | R

Central banks
Fed now facing twin inflation, growth risks as virus jumps and supply chains falter | R

US
Housing boom is over as new home sales fall to pandemic low | C

Geopolitics & trade
China’s Tech Regulator Orders Companies to Fix Anticompetitive, Security Issues | W
Chinese Officials Blame U.S. for Stalemate in High-Level Talks | W
The Really Critical Infrastructure Need: American-Made Semiconductors | W

Industries & companies
Aerospace: Boeing’s Starliner Set to Launch, Giving Company a Do-Over in Space | W
Airlines: American Airlines warns about fuel shortages around the country, asks pilots to conserve | C
Autos: Tesla records $23 million in bitcoin-related impairments in Q2 | C
Energy: Big Oil Companies Push Hydrogen as Green Alternative, but Obstacles Remain | W

Corporate finance
Aon, Willis Towers Scrap $30 Billion Merger Amid Antitrust Impasse | W

Virus
U.S. will not lift travel restrictions, citing Delta variant, White House says | R
Delta: Americans are ‘mixing and matching’ Covid vaccines over concerns about variant | C
Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates Imposed on Some Government Workers | W
Covid Treatment Options Remain Elusive, Despite Months of Effort and Rising Delta Cases | W

July 26 (Monday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Investors Are Buying American | W
The U.S. is deciding how to respond to China’s digital yuan | C

US
Rising Covid Cases Put the Economic Recovery at Risk | BR
Does America face a slowdown in economic growth? | E
Opinion | Biden Is Asking for $4 Trillion. Congress Shouldn’t Give It to Him. | N
U.S. Population Growth, an Economic Driver, Grinds to a Halt | W
 
Geopolitics & trade
Disturbing actions by China signal cold war, Stephen Roach warns | C
Putin says Russian navy can carry out ‘unpreventable strike’ if needed | C

Industries & companies
Energy: The Boom in Oil Stocks Could Be Over | BR
Railroads: Supply-Chain Backlogs Turn Chicago Into New Chokepoint | W
Travel: 6 Bargain Travel Stocks to Buy Even as Covid Cases Rise | BR

Corporate finance
The Robinhood IPO Is Coming Soon. Reasons to Steer Clear of the Stock. | BR

Climate
A 3°C world has no safe place | E
Air conditioning and climate change: Start-ups trying to help | C

Virus
The Delta Variant Upends the World’s Pandemic Response | W
Covid-19 Pill Race Heats Up as Japanese Firm Vies With Pfizer, Merck | W
The Most Influential Spreader of Coronavirus Misinformation Online | N
Disney won’t attend CinemaCon in-person as delta variant rages in Las Vegas | C

Beyond markets
Supply-Chain Woes Come to School Cafeterias | W

July 24 (Saturday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Dow jumps more than 200 points to close above 35,000 for the first time ever | C
Tin Prices Reach Records as Delta Variant Disrupts Supply | W

Global
Global supply chains buckle as virus variant and disasters strike | Reuters

Central banks
ECB Lifts Restrictions on Bank Dividends as Economy Rebounds | B

US I
The rapid growth the U.S. economy has seen is about to hit a wall | C
U.S. business activity cools further in July – IHS Markit survey | Reuters
End of Eviction Moratorium Puts Many Tenants at Risk of Losing Their Homes | W
Property Investors Bed Down in the Family Home | W
Companies from Chipotle to Whirlpool raise prices amid inflation | C

US II
Yellen wants debt limit raised by Aug. 2, U.S. may need ‘extraordinary measures’ | C
Modern Monetary Theory: Embrace of Big Budget Deficits Doesn’t Mean MMT Has Won | B

Geopolitics & trade
China Sanctions Wilbur Ross After U.S.’s Hong Kong Warning | B

Industries & companies
Airlines: U.S. Jet Fuel Glut Is Too Big for Surging Air Travel to Drain | B
Energy: Gas Engines, and the People Behind Them, Are Cast Aside for Electric Vehicles | W

Beyond markets
Tamarack and Bootleg Fires in Nevada and Oregon Grow Amid Difficult Conditions | W
The Next Target for mRNA Vaccines After Covid-19: The Flu | W
Al Lord Profited When College Tuition Rose. He Is Paying For It. | W

Virus
Covid cases are rising again in all 50 states across U.S. as delta variant tightens its grip | C
Delta variant: Pfizer Covid vaccine 39% effective in Israel, prevents severe illness | C
Delays, More Masks and Mandatory Shots: Virus Surge Disrupts Office-Return Plans | N
Pfizer to Supply U.S. With Millions of Shots for Young Kids | B
As Vaccines Do Their Work, Focus Moves to Long Covid | W

July 23 (Friday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Market
Stocks End Higher as Focus Turns to Earnings | W

Central banks
ECB Looks to Keep Rates Low for Longer | W
Fed Ramps Up Debate Over Taper Timing, Pace | W
IMF says Fed ‘highly effective,’ must carefully communicate withdrawal plans | R
Embedded as a risk, new COVID cycle could challenge Fed, recovery | R

US I
U.S. Median Home Price Hit New High in June | W
U.S. housing market floats back to earth | R
Rising Rents Threaten to Prop Up Inflation | N

US II
How Much More Will Your Oreos Cost? Companies Test Price Increases | W
Biden administration releases COVID funds to boost local economies | R
U.S. retailers scramble to stock shelves as kids head back to school | R

Geopolitics & trade
Biden’s China Policy Borrows From Trump and Adds Allies to Raise Pressure | W
U.S. sanctions Cuban officials over crackdown on protests as Biden warns: ‘This is just the beginning’ | C
About 100 CIA officers, family members afflicted by ‘Havana Syndrome’ -CIA chief | R

Industries & companies
Airlines: Airlines See a Surge in Domestic Flights, Beating Forecasts | N
Airlines: American Airlines, Southwest Lifted by Recovering Demand and Government Aid | W
Energy: Startup Claims Breakthrough in Long-Duration Batteries | W
Tech: Intel beats, but guides to lower margins for Q3 | C
Tech: Intel CEO Says Chip Shortage Could Stretch Into 2023 | W

Virus
Quest Diagnostics is seeing a rise in Covid tests as delta variant spreads, CEO says | C
Why Covid-19 Vaccines Work Well Against Delta Variant | W
CDC group weighs Covid booster shots for immunocompromised people at higher risk of breakthrough infections | C
Delta variant is one of the most infectious respiratory diseases known, CDC director says | C
NFL warns teams could forfeit games, lose money if Covid outbreaks occur among unvaccinated players | C

Corporate finance
Uber’s Freight Unit to Buy Logistics Tech Firm Transplace for $2.25 Billion | W
 
Beyond markets
NASA’s InSight Lander Gives First Look at Mars Interior, Yielding a Big Surprise | W

July 22 (Thursday)

YRI
Dr. Ed’s latest video podcast
Daily Markets Overview
Today’s Morning Briefing

Markets
Bond Rally Undercuts Inflation Fears | W
The bond market is torn over the potential for higher inflation and lower growth | C

Central banks
Fed Chief Powell Enjoys Support for Reappointment, but He’s Not a Lock | W

US I
Republicans sink Schumer’s test vote on bipartisan infrastructure plan | C
Delta Variant of Covid-19 Isn’t Expected to Dent Robust U.S. Recovery | W
Is the U.S. Economy Too Hot or Too Cold? Yes. | N
The Shortage of Starter Homes Extends Beyond Major Cities | W

US II
U.S. Life Expectancy Fell by 1.5 Years in 2020, the Biggest Decline in Generations | W
Truck drivers are essential workers. We need to treat them that way | NN
States Announce $26 Billion Settlement to Resolve Opioid Lawsuits | W

Geopolitics & trade
U.S., Germany strike deal to allow completion of Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline | C

Industries & companies
Consumer: Coca-Cola Boosts Outlook as Sales Rebound | W
Financials: JPMorgan gives Jamie Dimon special stock option bonus to keep him CEO | C
Health Care: Johnson & Johnson Posts Higher Profit as Healthcare Demand Returns | W
Utilities: PG&E, in Reversal, to Bury Power Lines in Fire-Prone Areas | W

Beyond markets
The Battles to Come Over the Benefits of Working From Home | N

Virus
Covid: Local officials across U.S. are starting to reimpose mask rules as delta variant takes hold | C
U.S. Extends Restrictions on Borders With Canada, Mexico | W
Opening Its Economy as Delta Variant Surges, the U.K. Becomes a Covid-19 Test Case | W