INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:13 am

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Post n°376

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:13 am

Venezuela
Tough road ahead for Maduro after dire data

CARACAS - Venezuela's central bank released long-awaited data showing the depth of the OPEC country's recession, a day after President Nicolas Maduro announced a package of measures seen as insufficient to salvage the unraveling economy.

The bank reported that Venezuelan inflation hit 180.9 percent in 2015, one of the highest rates in the world, while the economy contracted 5.7 percent.

The data showed the depth of Venezuela's crisis and raised the prospect new measures may hurt Venezuelans without significantly improving finances in a country already facing shortages of basics like milk and medicines.

Under Maduro's emergency measures, the price of Venezuela's fuel - the world's cheapest - will be increased for the first time in nearly 20 years and the complex system of fixed exchange rates has been devalued and revamped.

The fuel increase could amount to 5 percent of this year's budget, according to Reuters calculations, and will give state oil producer PDVSA's strained balance sheets a breather.

However, it remains unclear if what Maduro announced as a "floating" exchange rate would actually be allowed to float, or like previous such rates effectively become fixed and fail to satiate demand for greenbacks, further weakening the bolivar on the black market.

"Cheap fuel was the only benefit we had left," said Angel Pina, 41, at a gas station in Caracas. "The increase should have happened a long time ago, but now we don't know what consequences it could have."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-economy-idUSKCN0VR1RI

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:26 am

Carol

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Post n°377

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:26 am

Fannie Mae Q4 net income nearly doubled on higher interest rates - Fannie Mae has said its net income in the fourth quarter nearly doubled on higher interest rates. The government-controlled mortgage company reported net income of $2.5 billion in the latest quarter, compared with $1.3 billion in the same quarter a year ago. The Washington DC-based company also said Friday that it expects to pay the US Department of Treasury $2.9 billion in dividends next month, AP reported. With that payment it will have paid the Treasury $147.6 billion, above the $116.1 billion it received in government bailouts.

Russia’s foreign debt fell by $4.4 billion to $50 billion as of 2015 year-end, head of the Account Chamber of Russia, Tatyana Golikova, said on Friday. Russia's reserve fund totaled 3.2 trillion rubles ($41.6 billion) at the end of 2015, she told President Vladimir Putin. The National Wealth Fund totaled 5.2 trillion rubles ($67.6 billion), TASS reported.

Inflation in Russia will range from 7.5 percent to 8 percent in 2016 under current oil prices, Deputy Finance Minister Maksim Oreshkin said on Friday. The Bank of Russia expects inflation to be 5.5-6.5 percent in 2016 and to reach the target level of 4 percent in 2017, TASS said. Inflation in Russia largely depends at present on fluctuations of the ruble rate. It is falling against the dollar in its turn because of downward oil price dynamics.

Rising rents and medical costs lifted underlying US inflation in January by the most in nearly four-and-a-half years, Reuters reported. The Labor Department said on Friday its Consumer Price Index, excluding the volatile food and energy components, increased 0.3 percent last month. That was the biggest gain since August 2011 and followed a 0.2 percent rise in December. The signs of an uptick in price pressures could allow the Federal Reserve to gradually raise interest rates this year.

Organizers of the Singapore Airshow said $12.3 billion in airplane deals were signed at the event this week, AP reported. This is a sharp drop from the last show in 2014, which generated $32 billion of sales. This year’s total covers commercial, private and defense deals after the three-day trade period which ended Friday. This year’s figure was comprised of 10 deals, with another 40 made at undisclosed values, according to Leck Chet Lam, of Experia Events. In 2014, there were 24 undisclosed deals. “Many Asian airlines placed large orders between 2011 and 2014, and now have a long pipeline of aircraft deliveries to absorb over the next four years,” said Rajiv Biswas, Asia-Pacific Chief Economist at IHS Global Insight.

S&P downgrades Saudi Arabia over sliding oil prices
Rating agency Standard & Poor’s has cut Saudi Arabia’s rating by two notches to A- from A+, saying falling crude prices continue to hit the Kingdom’s finances.

https://www.rt.com/business/

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:23 pm

Carol

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Post n°378

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:23 pm

Saudi Arabia Halts $4B in Lebanese Deals Over Iran Dispute
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/02/19/world/middleeast/ap-ml-saudi-arabia-lebanon.html?_r=0

Iran plans to launch currency derivatives market
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/02/18/450938/Iran-currency-derivatives-market

US insurer covers Iran oil cargoes to EU
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/02/19/451212/US-insurer-covers-Iran-oil-cargoes-to-EU

Cyprus, Iran launch oil, banking talks
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114445/Cyprus-Iran-launch-oil-banking-talks

Iran to hold talks on gas pipeline deal with Iraq
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114559/Iran-to-hold-talks-on-gas-pipeline-deal-with-Iraq

Current period of chaos to engender new order in region
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114481/Current-period-of-chaos-to-engender-new-order-in-region

China to provide Iran with $20bn finance
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114382/China-to-provide-Iran-with-20bn-finance

Iran, Iraq Balk at Committing to Oil-Output Cap — Energy Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2016/02/18/iran-iraq-balk-at-committing-to-oil-output-cap-energy-journal/

Post-war Iraq: 'Everybody is corrupt, from top to bottom. Including me'
A corrupt political class has led a 13-year pillage on public money in the pursuit of power. As oil prices fall, further jeopardising the country’s revenues, there is little hope that governance will improve
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/19/post-war-iraq-corruption-oil-prices-revenues

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:24 pm

Carol

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Post n°379

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:24 pm

Lecturer and former international 'economic hit man,' John Perkins, spoke about how the deadly economic cancer he helped spread has unfortunately become the dominant system of business, government, and society today.

'Economic hit men' helped create a truly global empire, he said, outlining how a corporation picks out a country with resources they covet, and then generates a huge loan to that country. The money doesn't actually go to the country, but instead to the corporation to build the infrastructure. "The majority of the people actually suffer from these projects because money is diverted from education, health care, and other social services to try and pay the interest on the debt, and in the end, the principal can never be repaid-- that's part of the plan," he explained, adding that then, the 'economic hit men' suggest the privatization of everything, and that the country sell their resources cheaply to the corporation.

My job was to corrupt government officials around the world and get them to accept these deals," Perkins continued. At first this strategy was done just in developing countries, but now it can be seen all around the world, such as in Greece, Ireland, Spain, and even the US, he said. What's come out of this system is a "failed global economy"-- or a "death economy" based on ravaging the Earth, and exploiting resources and people, he lamented. While the US has become a kind of oligarchy, people can push for changes inside corporations which are still influenced by public reactions, product sales, and their stock value, he noted.

As Chief Economist at a major international consulting firm, John Perkins advised the World Bank, United Nations, IMF, U.S. Treasury Department, Fortune 500 corporations, and leaders of countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. He is a founder and board member of Dream Change and The Pachamama Alliance, non-profit organizations devoted to establishing a world that future generations will want to inherit and the author of the New York Times bestseller, Confessions Of An Economic Hitman.

http://johnperkins.org

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:15 pm

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Post n°380

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:15 pm

Peter Schiff: Dollar Collapse Will Be the Single Biggest Event In Human History
Voice of Reason
Feb 19, 2016
http://bit.ly/1RcumsW

[snip]

Arguably the best assessment I’ve ever come across for what is headed straight for the United States, and sadly, no matter how loud many of us right the bell, there are still those that refuse to look at the facts. Peter Schiff says:

“THE DOLLAR COLLAPSE WILL BE THE SINGLE LARGEST EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY!”

"This will be the first event that will touch every single living person in the world. All human activity is controlled by money. Our wealth, our work, our food, our government, even our relationships are affected by money."

"No money in human history has had as much reach in both breadth and depth as the dollar. It is the de facto world currency. All other currency collapses will pale in comparison to this big one. All other currency crises have been regional and there were other currencies for people to grasp on to."

"This collapse will be global and it will bring down not only the dollar but all other fiat currencies,a s they are fundamentally no different. The collapse of currencies will lead to the collapse of ALL paper assets. The repercussions to this will have incredible results worldwide”

What makes this story even more infuriating, is that it wasn’t necessary. It didn’t have to happen.”

More: Peter Schiff: Fed is trying everything they can to delay the day of reckoning

The dollar collapse will be the single largest event in human history. This will be the first event that will touch every single living person in the world. All human activity is controlled by money. Our wealth,our work,our food, our government, even our relationships are affected by money.

No money in human history has had as much reach in both breadth and depth as the dollar. It is the de facto world currency. All other currency collapses will pale in comparison to this big one. All other currency crises have been regional and there were other currencies for people to grasp on to.

What makes this story even more infuriating, is that it wasn’t necessary. Had Obama been a little more cooperative with Putin, instead of imposing sanctions, we wouldn’t be in this mess. But as it was, Obama’s arrogance wouldn’t allow himself to be Putin’s equal. He was the premadonna of the UN. The world listened to Obama. Then Putin came and stole his thunder and humiliated him by saying that “Obama [the U.S.] was responsible for ISIS. Indeed, the CIA founded, funded, trained and armed the Islamic State. That’s pretty much a given, but where this will go from here, nobody knows.

More: http://bit.ly/1RcumsW

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:24 pm

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Post n°381

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:24 pm

Imagine if your currency were devalued similar to Venezuela's and whether you would change your driving habits...

Petrol pump pain: Venezuelan gasoline prices jump 6,000%
RT News | Feb 18, 2016
http://on.rt.com/74tq

Gasoline will no longer be cheaper than water for Venezuelans after President Nicolas Maduro devalued the national currency and raised petrol prices 60-fold.

“I take responsibility for it,” said Maduro.

Caracas has hiked petrol prices for the first time in 20 years, as the oil-dependent Venezuelan economy is no longer able to subsidize its cost at the pumps, selling gasoline to its citizens for next to nothing

Starting from February 18, the price of premium gasoline is going rise from 0.1 bolivars (less than 2 cents) a liter to 6 bolivars (87 cents) per liter; an increase of over 6,000 percent. The price for regular 91 octane gasoline is set to jump from 0.07 bolivars (1 cent) to 1 bolivar (14 cents) per liter, reports the Associated Press.

The government has also announced a devaluation of the bolivar against the US dollar. The official exchange rate used for basic consumer goods such as food and medicine is going devalue the national currency from 6.3 to 10 bolivars to the greenback.

At the same time the black market exchange rate in Venezuela has fallen below 1,000 bolivars per dollar. That explains why a beer in the country can cost 300 bolivars and a basket of strawberries fetches 800 bolivars.

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:29 pm

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Post n°382

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:29 pm

Mexico Finance Minister Warns Investors to Look Out for More
February 19, 2016 — 8:33 AM

Mexican Finance Minister Luis Videgaray told investors to expect the unexpected after this week’s unprecedented steps to save the peso from the world’s worst rout.

Surprise moves such as the ability to sell dollars in the spot market with no advance notice and raise interest rates whenever needed are a key element to counter speculators who pushed the peso to a record low this month, Videgaray said in an interview Friday. Stemming declines in the currency is key to keeping inflation expectations under control, protecting Mexico’s consumers and preserving economic growth, he said.

"We have reserves and a full set of tools on the monetary and currency side to intervene if necessary,” he said. “And that’s an important message we wanted to convey to the market. And it seems the market has listened."

The currency strengthened 0.3 percent after the minister’s comments, leaving it up 3.5 percent since Tuesday, the day before Videgaray and central bank Governor Agustin Carstens announced a surprise increase to the benchmark interest rate and plans to sell dollars directly to banks to support the currency. A plunge in global oil prices and a slowdown in demand for exports has weighed on Mexico’s peso, which has weakened 18 percent in the past 12 months and it’s still down 6 percent this year, the worst performance among the world’s most-traded currencies.

Videgaray said one of the effects of increasing the central bank’s overnight rate by half a percentage point to 3.75 percent was to make it "a little bit more expensive to short the peso" by raising the cost to borrow the currency.

The currency commission, comprised of central bank and ministry officials, will decide when to intervene with discretionary dollar sales, he said.

More: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-19/mexico-finance-minister-warns-investors-to-stay-alert-for-more

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:32 pm

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Post n°383

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:32 pm

Stocks Erode Weekly Gain as Oil Falls; Treasuries Drop After CPI
February 18, 2016

Stocks worldwide trimmed weekly gains as oil declined for the first time in three days, denting optimism that this year’s rout in commodities was easing.

An index of global equities fell for the first time in six days, bringing an end to a rally fueled by the first signs that producers may consider steps to rein in a record crude glut. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index erased most of its earlier declines as technology and financial shares rebounded. Treasuries fell and the dollar strengthened after a report showed the cost of living in the U.S. excluding food and fuel increased by the most since 2011, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s message that inflation will rise toward its target.

Commodities dipped lower this week even after Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world’s two largest oil-producing countries, agreed Tuesday to freeze output at near-record levels. Iran said it would support the action, though the nation doesn’t think it will be enough to remove the supply glut, according to a person familiar with Iranian policy. Capital Group Cos., the money manager with $1.4 trillion in assets, expects volatility to remain elevated amid a slowing global economy and uncertainty about central bank policies.
“The direction and sentiment in the oil pits has a pretty tight correlation with what’s happening in equity markets,” said Michael James, managing director of equity trading at Wedbush Securities Inc. in Los Angeles. “We got way oversold last week and there were a number of events that, when tied together, probably led to a fair amount of short-covering. We got overextended to the downside last week, we’ve had a pretty decent bounce off of those oversold levels and now we’re at an overbought condition.”
Stocks

The S&P 500 dropped 0.2 percent at 1:30 p.m. in New York, after earlier losing as much as 0.8 percent. It is up 2.7 percent for the week, its strongest performance by that measure of the year, with a rebound that’s been led by the year’s most beaten-down sectors, including banks, technology and retailer shares.

A recovery in technology shares was paced by Applied Materials Inc., which predicted sales this quarter that beat analysts’ estimates. Financial companies wiped out losses as American Express Co. climbed 1 percent.

Index futures extended losses after a 8:30 a.m. report showed the so-called core consumer-price measure climbed 0.3 percent, more than forecast and the most since August 2011, after a 0.2 percent gain the month before.

More: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-18/most-asian-index-futures-signal-drop-following-yen-gold-rebound

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:03 pm

Carol

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Post n°384

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:03 pm

As Iran Revives Oil to Europe, U.S. Insurer Says Tankers Covered
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-18/as-iran-revives-oil-to-europe-u-s-insurer-says-tankers-covered

From OPEC to NOPEC
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/from-opec-to-nopec/

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:13 pm

Carol

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Post n°385

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:13 pm

Teamster retirees fight massive pension cuts at Kansas City town hall, warn others at risk -- The Central States Pension Fund has proposed cuts of 50 percent or more to many retirees. It’s the first proposal to use a controversial 2014 law to cut current benefits severely in hopes of avoiding the fund’s collapse. -- February 16, 2016 -- http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article60760061.html

"Chase bank continues to be the leader in removing access to your bank accounts. This was sent out today: "We've sent an important communication to your Secure Message Center, available on Chase Online or on the Chase Mobile app.”
You Can No Longer Send Online Wire Transfers From Personal Savings Accounts

If one cannot send wires from personal savings accounts, what kind of accounts CAN a Chase customer send wires from? Business accounts only? Checking accounts, but not savings accounts? Do you want to put $500,000 into your checking account, just so you can wire it to some other bank? The issue was that a simple savings account was not making enough money for the bank (not enough transaction fees or overdraft charges), so they wanted their customers to upgrade to a business account, which has a monthly fee.

Chase stopped allowing other people to make deposits into your bank account. Who does that make sense to? If someone has cash, and lives somewhere remote from you, and wants to put it into your account so you can withdraw it or use it with your bankcard, they are not allowed to deposit it. But if you write a CHECK, then they can put it into your account. War on cash? Need for control—they can track a check, but cannot track cash. Chase, being the JPMorgan/Rothschilds’ bank of choice in the USA, is leading the pack for restriction of freedoms to use your money as you choose."

Last edited by Carol on Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:23 pm; edited 1 time in total

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:18 pm

Carol

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Post n°386

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:18 pm

Chinese interest in Chicago Stock Exchange rings alarm bells in Congress
Members of Congress from both parties are raising objections to a Chinese company's plans to buy the Chicago Stock Exchange. In a letter signed by 45 members of Congress sent to the U.S. Treasury Department, lawmakecalled for a "full and rigorous investigation" into the proposed sale. They said it is unclear if the Chinese government is behind the firm that's planning to buy.

Backlash Grows in Washington to Chinese Takeovers
— As Chinese companies try to snap up American tech businesses, they are setting off ripples of unease in the Obama administration and in Congress, inciting a backlash that has stopped the latest acquisition attempt.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/business/dealbook/china-fairchild-semiconductor-bid-rejected.html

Iraq vows to activate the banking and financial dealings with Iran
http://www.alliraqnews.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=30634

Barclays Investment Bank Head Tom King to Step Down
And another one down, Another one bites the dust….
http://www.wsj.com/articles/barclays-investment-bank-head-tom-king-to-step-down-1455890169

An international report: 3 Ministries has wasted billions of dollars under the previous government
LINK http://www.almadapaper.net/ar/news/504919/تقرير-دولي-3-وزارات-أهدرت-مليارات-الدولا

China’s Top Securities Regulator to Step Down
http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-top-securities-regulator-to-step-down-1455883897

Farmers Union: Activating livestock projects provides for Iraq more than a billion dollars
Shows that a market other than Oil is developing in Iraq.
the Ministry of Agriculture indicated that they were implementing a new and sophisticated projects.

Council Anbar: 80% of the eastern gray areas is safe and we will soon be displaced
http://www.iraqpressagency.com/?p=187260&lang=ar
"the security forces and in collaboration with government departments and institutions in Anbar, was able to raise and dismantling IEDs bombs and houses 80% of the areas of eastern cutter for Gray."
" preparations are underway to re-displaced people to their areas and homes after the completion of clean-up operations, and secure areas of the remnants of war. "

Seven years imprisonment for the Director General of the processing circuit and arming former Ministry of Defense for harming public money (video)condemned the competent criminal issues Integrity Director-General of the Department of armament Court and processing of former Iraqi defense ministry; for a deliberate damage to public property.

http://www.akhbaar.org/home/2016/2/207256.html

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:19 pm

Carol

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Post n°387

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:19 pm

SWEEPING UP THE GARBAGE: Deputy: general amnesty includes all the "whales" of corruption

Baghdad / Iraq News Network accused the deputy of the National Alliance, some political blocs trying to include "senior accused and convicted" of corruption to the draft amnesty law Am.oukal Mohammed fact in a statement today: "attempts by some political blocs to exploit the draft general amnesty law to be voted on in the session next Saturday and the exercise of these blocs pressure on the parliamentary legal committee to finalize spend universally senior accused and convicted for financial and administrative corruption ".ouhdhir of" the inclusion of whales corruption mentioned law "issues, stressing that the bloc" will stand deduced from these attempts suspicious ".ofatt the fact that "the Iraqi society in need of a general amnesty achieve societal reconciliation law gives a new opportunity for the accused and convicted of crimes and other issues is terrorism and corruption."

He stressed, "can not accept the exploitation of the law for amnesty for terrorists and corrupt, who were the cause of the destruction of the country and killed his sons and steal its wealth and looting wealth and thwart progress. "the member of the parliamentary legal committee Hassan Turan, most likely on Tuesday," the vote on the draft general amnesty law in the parliament sessions in the next week.

"He said Turan that" the draft general amnesty law is still related to the opinions of some of the blocks policy, "noting that "legal Committee formed a committee miniature ones to discuss the points of disagreement and the convergence of views that their actions accomplished during this week and that is the law and be ready to vote in next Saturday." and a member of the legal representative that "disagreement key in the law point is the exceptions set out in law covers of Article 4 / terrorism, and what are the exceptions that should be do not include the article "He stressed Turan" the existence of differences between the national Alliance and the Union of national forces in this article on Palmhmolin in terror as and bloc Liberal [of the Sadrist movement] have the face of opposition to the parties in the article also therefore it will be the focus of the next meeting on the issue of exceptions and perhaps the law ready for a vote next week. "

http://malware-site.www/سياسية/نائبالعفو-العام-يشمل-كل-حيتانالفساد/

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:21 pm

Carol

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Post n°388

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 4:21 pm

Here’s why speculation that China is mass-selling U.S. Treasurys could be true
Speculation that China has been mass-selling U.S. Treasurys to boost its foreign-exchange reserves grew again Wednesday, after a report showed that Belgium’s Treasury holdings — viewed as a proxy for China’s holdings — declined sharply.

Analysts had been hypothesizing that China might be liquidating large amounts of U.S. government debt, after Beijing announced last week that the country’s foreign-exchange reserves fell in January to their lowest level in more than three years, after tumbling in December by the largest amount on record.

The release of the Treasury International Capital data late Tuesday, which contain all the flows of money into and out of the U.S for purchases and sales of U.S. securities, offered new “evidence of big Chinese selling,” said Thomas Simons an economist at Jefferies, in emailed comments.

According to the holdings data, China retained the top spot in December as the largest holder of Treasurys, with $1.246 trillion, down $18.4 billion from November. Japan maintained its position as the second-biggest holder of Treasurys, with $1.123 trillion, down $22.4 billion from the previous month.

But Belgian holdings also fell sharply, down by $21.9 billion.

“Belgian holdings have been a point of focus due to extreme volatility...This is significant because it is widely speculated that China executes trades with Treasuries held in custody in Belgium,” Simons said.

Indeed, Belgium’s holdings have fluctuated widely over the past year.

The small European country had ranked as the third-largest holder of Treasurys as recently as February 2015, but holdings have fallen by $202 billion since then and Belgium is not even in the top 10 anymore.

Combined with the $18.4 billion decline in mainland Chinese Treasury holdings, the data suggests that total Chinese holdings fell approximately $40.3 billion in December, according to Jefferies.

Overall, foreign official institutions, including central banks and sovereign wealth funds, sold $49.5 billion in Treasurys in December. But as private investors stepped in and bought $13.6 billion in Treasurys, the net outflow was of $35.9 billion, as the following chart shows.

Bank of America
Foreign investors sold $35.9 billion in U.S. Treasurys in December, but bought $4.1 billion in corporate bonds.
Earlier this month, Société Générale global strategist Albert Edwards said China is burning through its foreign-currency reserves at such a blistering pace that the country will run down its cushion in a few months.

But data from Janney Montgomery Scott taking the official Chinese holdings as a base for calculation showed that, at December’s rate of Treasury sales, China’s Treasury portfolio won’t be exhausted for nearly six years.

“While China does need to raise dollars, sell those dollars, and buy yuan to support its currency, the pace of any needed asset sales is far from breakneck and instead looks remarkably measured,” said Guy LeBas, chief fixed income strategist at Janney, in a note.

Official Chinese selling “only accounted for about a third of Asia’s net outflows at $18 billion; Japan’s $22 billion [outflow] was actually greater,” LeBas added.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-speculation-that-china-is-mass-selling-us-treasurys-could-be-true-2016-02-17

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:26 pm

Carol

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Post n°389

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:26 pm

Cash Ban: Greeks Face “Permanent Cash Controls and Compulsory Use of Plastic Money”

This article was written by Tyler Durden and originally published at Zero Hedge.com.

Editor’s Comment: Greeks are not only suffering financially under the controls imposed by its leaders under economic crisis, but they are also losing their freedoms. The combination leads to an impoverished and enslaved population. Worse, this misery is likely to be exported to other countries, as the entire globe faces the prospect of another economic meltdown.

And the response has already been scripted: Americans, too, may find cash to be severely restricted, while their meager earnings are tightly controlled on an electronic grid where they are forced to use digital transactions that enrich the wealth and power of the very banks who have created the crisis. As SHTF previously reported: Once Cash Is Banned They Will Be Able To Force You To Buy Products.

Greek Cash Ban Escalates: ‘Permanent’ Stricter “Capital Controls” On 3 Million Pensioners, Civil Servants Imposed

by Tyler Durden

In a stunning move towards the elites’ endgame of ‘banning cash’, Greek authorities unveiled stricter capital controls for civil servants and pensioners this weekend. By drastically limiting cash withdrawals and forcing the more ‘controllable’ compulsory use of plastic money, Greek authorities hope to stop tax evasion through the use of ‘fake cash registers’.

As KeepTakingGreece.com reports,

A shock-measure: civil servants and pensioners will be subject to stricter capital controls than the rest of the Greeks. They will be able to withdraw only €150 per week – with the cash withdrawal cap being €420 per week – that is a total of €600 per month. The rest of their wage or pension they will have to spend by using debit or credit card.

The news fell like a bombshell on Saturday evening and spoiled the weekend of millions of Greeks. It will probably spoil the rest of their lives too.

Greek media revealed, that the Finance Ministry plans to impose such a measure in order to combat tax evasion, but of course, not the tax evasion committed by the civil servants and pensioners as this is not possible as the state deducts their share on tax before they receive wages and pensions but the tax evasion committed by business owners.

According to the Finance Ministry plan, civil servants and pensioners will be able to withdraw in cash only part of their wages and pensions and the rest will have to remain in their bank deposit account. This remaining amount they will have to spend only through the compulsory use of debit or credit card.

“The measure will affect 2.65 million pensioners and 600,000 civil servants,” notes newspaper To Vima that revealed the shocking plan.

More: http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/cash-ban-greeks-face-permanent-cash-controls-and-compulsory-use-of-plastic-money_10142015

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:31 pm

Carol

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Post n°390

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:31 pm

Bank of America: "Corporate Balance Sheets Are The Most Unhealthy They Have Ever Been"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/19/2016
"...in a world where corporate balance sheets are arguably the most unhealthy they have ever been (all-time high leverage in HG and HY) where companies have relied on cheap debt to fund a growth through acquisition strategy, what happens if funding is either unavailable or too expensive to make a growth through acquisition strategy make sense? Same goes for buybacks and special dividends?"

it's just a matter of time.

However, rarely if ever have we heard Contopoulos as downright apocalyptic as he is in his latest note, "A Minsky Moment", which has to be read to be believed, if only for the selected excerpts below:

With a view that the market will eventually price in a much worse default environment than it is currently, we are left trying to determine when peak spreads will occur and for how long they will last. Unfortunately, when peak spreads are reached is not consistent across time periods, making it difficult to time the optimal entry. For example, in 1989 spreads peaked 178 days before the default rate peaked, in 2002 it was 165 days after, and in 2008 it was 290 days before (Chart 2). Convoluting the picture today is that the Energy default rate has the potential to skew that of the overall market. For example, if high yield E&P companies realize a 50% default rate this year and the rest of Energy experiences a 25% default rate, the Energy component of the market default rate could be nearly 6ppt. If the rest of the market experiences just a 4ppt rate, the market could realize double digit default rates in 2016, despite a relatively benign non-commodity contribution.

Read more: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-19/bank-america-corporate-balance-sheets-are-most-unhealthy-they-have-ever-been

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:36 pm

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Post n°391

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:36 pm

Iran, Iraq eye joint investment projects
Iran welcomes proposals put forward by Iraqi merchants calling for joint investment with Islamic Republic, Iranian minister of Industry, Mining and Trade, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said.

At a meeting with Iranian minister of industry in Baghdad, a number of Iraqi merchants and manufacturers have called for the expansion of trade ties through joint investment projects with Iranian private sector, IRNA news agency reported.

The trade ties between Tehran and Baghdad were restricted to purchasing and selling of goods before the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA/ nuclear deal), but today with the removal of international sanctions against Tehran, the way for joint cooperation has been paved, the head of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce, Jaafar al-Hamdani said.
http://en.trend.az/iran/business/2496962.html

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Sat Feb 20, 2016 6:23 pm

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Post n°392

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Sat Feb 20, 2016 6:23 pm

Norway allows Government Pension Fund Global to buy Iranian bonds
http://www.ipe.com/countries/nordic-region/norway-allows-government-pension-fund-global-to-buy-iranian-bonds/10012003.article

US grants Boeing license to study Iran market
Boeing said Friday it received the green light from the Obama administration to study the commercial airplane market in Iran as it eyes opportunity following the lifting of nuclear sanctions.
http://www.iran-daily.com/News/137026.html

Oil rig count collapses for 9th straight week
The US oil rig count tumbled 26 to 413 this week, according to driller Baker Hughes.

It's the lowest level since December 2009.

The total count of oil and gas rigs fell 27 to 514, as only one gas rig was shut down.

Last week, the oil rig count fell by 28, while the combined count of oil and gas rigs dropped 30.

This was the third straight week of a sizeable drop in the rig count, each by at least 26. It's the biggest three-week drop in a year.

Crude oil prices were lower on Friday afternoon, with West Texas Intermediate crude futures in New York down 3% to as low as $29.14 per barrel.

This week, the Energy Information Administration reported a continued build in inventories, by 2.1 million barrels. This added to evidence of a sustained supply glut that could counter any efforts to freeze production by OPEC members, as was recently reported.

Morehttp://uk.businessinsider.com/baker-hughes-rig-count-february-19-2016-2?r=US&IR=T

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:11 am

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Post n°393

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:11 am

Europe’s banks fear the CoCo market is dead
European Central Bank, Frankfurt
Issuance of bonds, which are designed to make banks safer, could grind to a halt as new jitters hit the world's financial system
Europe’s bankers fear they may never again be able to issue CoCo bonds, if the dive in prices this month has left investors too afraid to buy the bonds.

Lenders had planned to issue €40bn of bonds this year, leaving them with a gap in their financing plans.
Banks have even made approaches to regulators to warn them that the industry may not be able to meet officials’ plans for issuing the bonds if prices do not bounce back soon.

CoCos, formally known as contingent convertible bonds and classed as AT1 securities, are bonds which are designed to make banks safer.

Banks can stop paying the interest coupon on bonds when profits evaporate, in the same way as they do with dividends on shares. And when a bank’s capital buffer falls below a fixed level, the CoCos are turned into shares or wiped out completely.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/bank-of-england/12165444/Europes-banks-fear-the-CoCo-market-is-dead.html

RBS and Lloyds forecast to cut hundreds of branches
Signs sit outside branches of a Lloyds TSB bank, part of the Lloyds Banking Group Plc, a Barclays Bank Plc bank, a NatWest bank, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS), and a HSBC Holdings Plc bank in Staines, UK

Analysts expect Britain’s biggest banks to cut costs harder in coming years, with hundreds more branches expected to get the chop. The Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group are expected to announce further plans to cut costs when they publish their 2015 financial results this week, which analysts believe could result in the closure of more than 400 more branches in the coming years.

Low interest rates and high PPI bills are expected to put more pressure on banks' revenues in coming years, forcing them to cut more costs.

The entire banking sector has cut several thousand branches in recent years as customers embrace online and mobile banking.
RBS has 1,600 branches, down from 2,200 in 2010. Analysts at UBS expect RBS to end up cutting that number by at least another 300 in the coming years, as the pressure to cut costs grows and the usefulness of branches falls.

RBS has seen the number of branch transactions fall by 43pc since 2010, while online and mobile transactions are up 400pc.
If the 40pc predicted fall in RBS numbers from their 2010 level is replicated at Lloyds, that would mean Lloyds also cutting back from 3,000 branches to just 1,800 - more than 200 closures on top of current plans.

Read more:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/rbs/12165560/RBS-and-Lloyds-forecast-to-cut-hundreds-of-branches.html

Standard Life bucks global financial volatility to post healthy profits
The asset manager said that the breadth of its investments meant it was diversified enough to withstand market instability
The insurance and investment group Standard Life has withstood recent market volatility to post healthy growth in profits, beating analyst forecasts.

Pre-tax profits at the FTSE 100 firm increased by 9.4pc to £665m, compared with analyst expectations of £616m.

Keith Skeoch, chief executive, said that "while the difficult conditions in global financial markets may persist for some time, Standard Life remains well positioned to meet the needs of clients and customers".
The ongoing UK pensions reforms have brought in a wave of customers along with costly preparations for a glut of new workplace savers.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/sldot/12164345/Standard-Life-bucks-global-financial-volatility-to-post-healthy-profits.html

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Sun Feb 21, 2016 9:12 am

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Post n°394

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Sun Feb 21, 2016 9:12 am

February Update from Paul, High Level Financial Insider on RN (England)

Andy Young and Jason Holmes were joined by Paul, High Level Financial Insider for a February Update

This is the year we are expecting to see the fall of the Cabal that is controlling us all !

Rick Simpson Cannabis Oil

Raconteurs News Podcast No20
This Friday Andy and Jason were joined once again by Paul, our High Level Financial Insider.

Paul gave us his latest updates on the imminent destruction of the present corrupt financial system and the removal of the Cabal that controls this system.

Subjects we discussed include :- Syria and the ongoing war, Middle East including Saudi and Turkey, The coming banking collapse.

Paul also covered the importance of Gold and Silver and what we need to do post Cabal to get the world we all want to live in.

As always w join us on RN the show was packed with great,thought provoking information.

Listen: http://raconteursnews.com/paul-high-level-financial-insider/

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:03 am

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Post n°395

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:03 am

Tehran is holding talks on implementation of joint economic projects in the field of oil drilling with 30 European and Asian companies, the managing director of the National Iranian Drilling Company said.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/business/20160222/1035155894/iran-talks-oil-drilling.html#ixzz40zJKSJb2

BEIJING: China's central bank has injected a whopping 163 billion yuan into 20 financial institutions to ease liquidity strain in the world's second largest economy, currently witnessing sluggish growth.

Read more: http://m.economictimes.com/news/international/business/chinas-central-bank-pumps-in-25-billion-to-boost-liquidity/articleshow/51078186.cms

Pound heading for biggest one-day fall since 2009 on Brexit fears
The pound is heading for its biggest drop in nearly seven years against the dollar amid uncertainty about a possible British exit from the EU.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35628733

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:12 am

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Post n°396

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:12 am

Trading On Eurex Suspended "Until Futher Notice" Due To Technical Issues
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 06:15 -0500

While in the US market breaks practically always happen when the market is sharply lower, and are intended to halt any downward momentum, in Europe this simple relationship has yet to be perfected, and for the past hour, following what it announced were technical issues, the Deutsche Boerse-owned Eurex derivatives exchange where futures on such indices as the DAX and Switzerland trade, has suspended trading in its T7 system "until futher notice."

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1 - Page 16 Eurex

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/futures-trading-eurex-suspended-until-futher-notice-due-technical-issues

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:15 am

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Post n°397

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:15 am

Banks Keep Cutting Currency Traders as Volatility No Job Saver
As banks around the world cut sales and trading jobs in an effort to reduce costs, the bloodletting in foreign exchange is proving to be among the deepest and most painful.

The world’s 12 biggest banks cut front-office currency staff by 5 percent in 2015, extending a trend that’s seen them reduce foreign-exchange headcount by more than a quarter since 2010, according to Coalition Development Ltd., a London-based provider of research and analytics for the financial industry. Layoffs among foreign-exchange traders last year outpaced those in equities, corporate finance and advisory, and fixed income, currencies and commodities trading broadly.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-22/banks-keep-cutting-currency-traders-as-volatility-no-job-saver

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:44 am

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Post n°398

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:44 am

"There Is Definitely Something Strange Going On" In Sweden
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 12:15
"Some 92% of those unaccompanied migrants were male last year... there is definitely something strange going on. More than half of the world’s refugees are women. In World War II, when Sweden took refugees from Finland, they were children and 90% were below the age of 10. But now almost all of them are late teenagers – supposedly; we know many are older for a fact... If you have an open door policy and you are incentivizing Afghans to take advantage of the system, can you really blame them?"

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/there-definitely-something-strange-going-sweden

Safes Sell Out In Japan, 1,000 Franc Note Demand Soars As NIRP Triggers Cash Hoarding
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 09:11
"This suggests a vague sense of unease among the public"...

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/safes-sell-out-japan-1000-franc-note-demand-soars-nirp-triggers-cash-hoarding

The Cost Of Democratic Socialism (In 1 Stunning Chart)
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 11:59
With a growing number of Americans appearing willing to jump on the socialism-by-any-other-name bandwagon, JPMorgan CIO Michael Cembalest digs into the details of Bernie Sanders' tax proposals. As the following chart sums up so extremely, his plan would certainly represent a unique and unprecedented event in the history of US taxation, if it were enacted.

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/cost-democratic-socialism-1-stunning-chart

Why Bonds Aren't Buying This Bounce, And Why Guggenheim Expects The 10-Year Yield To Drop Below 1%
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 11:37
"Essentially, the rates market is stuck between pricing in more Fed easing or more China worries."

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/why-bonds-arent-buying-bounce-and-why-guggenheim-expects-10-year-yield-drop-below-1

The Mood In Silicon Valley Is Like The "Moment After The Titanic Hit An Iceberg"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 10:52
A year ago, startups with nascent business models were scoring billion-dollar valuations as investors raced each other to write checks. Today, venture capital is drying up for less successful startups. Rory O’Driscoll, a partner with venture firm Scale Venture Partners, likens the mood today to the moment after the Titanic hit an iceberg. “No one wanted to jump into the lifeboats right away.”

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/mood-silicon-valley-moment-after-titanic-hit-iceberg-heres-why

Citi Asks "When Does A Recession Become A Depression?"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 10:27
“When it rains, it pours.” That is most assuredly one of the most heavily used cliches in the history of the English language but a failure to understand it apparently causes Citi’s economics team to get it wrong when it comes to forecasting the depth and trajectory of EM recessions.

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/citi-asks-when-does-recession-become-depression

Steen Jakobsen Explains What Brexit Really Means: "No Good Outcomes To This"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 10:11
"If Britain does vote No the case for a European Union will collapse – the move away from common law and equal treatment has been for everyone to see."

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/steen-jakobsen-explains-what-brexit-really-means-no-good-outcomes

"We've Reached The Limit": Denmark Central Bank Chief Says Monetary Policy Is Exhausted
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 10:10
Have we reached the Keynesian end game? One central banker thinks so. "We have reached a point where monetary policy no longer has a big overall impact,. [It's] overstreched [and] there’s a limit to what more one can do’."

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/weve-reached-limit-denmark-central-bank-chief-says-monetary-policy-exhausted

PMI Plunges - The Last Time US Manufacturing Was This Weak, Bernanke Hinted At QE3
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 09:53
On the heels of weakness in the rest of the world's PMIs, US Manufacturing just printed 51.0 (missing expectations of 52.4) and tumbling to its lowest since October 2012... followed rapidly by Bernanke hinting at QE3. While Markit does 'blame the extreme weather', it notes however that "every indicator from the flash PMI survey, from output, order books and exports to employment, inventories and prices, is flashing a warning light about the health of the manufacturing economy."

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/pmi-plunges-last-time-us-manufacturing-was-weak-bernanke-hinted-qe3

The System Has Failed
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 09:33
No wonder we're devolving into a society of a few privileged haves and a vast populace of marginalized have-nots: the system has failed, but we can't even talk about it.

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/system-has-failed

WTI Surges Above $33 Despite IEA 'Glutter'-For-Longer Warnings
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 08:55
WTI crude prices are up almost 6% this morning with April (the new front-month) trading above $33.50 - testing post-DOE plunge stops. The irony of the ramp is that it comes amid terrible global PMIs (demand), a report from IEA of oil staying in glut for longer than expected (supply), and warnings from Abu Dhabi's biggest bank that $20 oil is possible. Oh well, we are sure the algos know what they are doing... despite veterans of the 1980s oil glut warning it could take 7 to 10 years to emerge from the current slump.

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/wti-surges-above-33-despite-iea-glutter-longer-warnings

Silicon Valley's Business Model In Jeopardy As Wireless Carriers Start Blocking Online Ads
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 08:42
“We don’t believe customers should have to pay for data usage driven by mobile ads,” Tom Malleschitz, chief marketing officer of Three UK, said in a statement. “Irrelevant and excessive mobile ads annoy customers and affect their overall network experience.”

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/silicon-valley-business-model-jeopardy-wireless-carriers-start-blocking-online-ads

Cable Crashes To 7 Year Lows As Brexit Battle Begins
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 08:21
With the UK's referendum on EU membership due in four months, it appears the market is gravely concerned about the possibility of Brexit. Despite the unleashing of Project Fear (both military and corporate fearmongery), cable (GBPUSD) has crashed 2.3% (the most in 7 years) to its lowest in 7 years, and both FX volatility and credit risk Brexit indicators are soaring to record highs.

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/cable-crashes-7-year-lows-brexit-battle-begins

The Simple Reason Why Stocks Are Soaring: Gartman "A Bit Net Shorter", Says "Market Is In Very, Very Bad Trouble"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 07:51
If volume us supposed to follow the trend then the stock market is in very, very bad trouble indeed, for the volume is strong as the market weakens and its weak as the market weakens and its strong as the market rises.... we cut back on the long position we are holding in a small coal company headquartered in Illinois but otherwise we did nothing, leaving us a bit net shorter of the market

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/simple-reason-why-stocks-are-soaring-gartman-bit-net-shorter-says-market-very-very-b

Frontrunning: February 22
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/22/2016 - 07:48
Futures sharply higher as oil extends gains (Reuters)
Global Stocks Gain on Rising Commodities Prices, China (WSJ)
Pound in freefall as Boris Johnson sparks Brexit fears (Telegraph)
Pound Slides Most Since 2009 as Johnson Backs ‘Brexit’ Campaign (BBG)
Oil Glut Will Persist Into 2017 as IEA Sees Prices Capped (BBG)
Japanese Seeking a Place to Stash Cash Start Snapping Up Safes (WSJ)

Read More: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-22/frontrunning-february-22

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:48 am

Carol

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Post n°399

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:48 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsA-eGg8y0U

David Haggith: The Economy is Failing All Over The World
February 18, 2016

I love the credit card commercials on TeeVee and how they talk about “cash back”, “cash bonus”, “cash this” and “cash that” – “what’s in your wallet?” We are being trained to believe that a piece of plastic is “money”. Gold is money and everything else is credit. Paper “dollars” is a representation of money and credit/debit cards are an illusion of money. What happens to our lives, our human rights, if cash is outlawed?

As George Carlin says, “No body seems to notice, no body seems to care.” That, unfortunately, is a fact. When you have football games, hockey games, baseball games, basketball games, endless hours of TeeVee to watch, how could a person be expected to follow some trivial item like the government banning cash?

Totalitarian creep is moving into hyperdrive. Almost on a daily basis we see another article in mainstream media about a “cashless society”. If you follow the Liberty Movement and/or alternative press then you are aware the drums for a cashless society are beating louder and louder every day.

What does it mean to the average person on the street to live in a cashless society, where all commerce is conducted electronically? One of the more horrific aspects is that if you step out of line and you have a legal issue, say a traffic ticket, then your account could be seized, drained of all it current resources and you are left with nothing until your account is replenished in a few days or a few weeks.

How often does your current employer issue a bank draft/direct deposit to pay you? If you work for a large company then you are being trained to live in a cashless society. Most of the larger companies will not issue a hard check or pay you in cash – bank draft/direct deposit only. Say you don’t have a bank account? Well, then you had better get one, otherwise, you have two choices: work for free or find somewhere else to work and since, by law, you are not allowed to work for free, you have only one option.

What about interest on your checking and savings account? What about fees for transactions that are currently being paid by the seller? In most cases those fees are passed along to the buyer but in a cashless society you no longer have a choice in paying those fees or not. Yeah, it’s only 1.5-3% of the purchase price, but if you would rather not pay that fee you are out of luck. What about freedom of choice? What if you don’t want to purchase “X” car but prefer “Y” car? What if the transaction fees were used in a way that made you think twice about the car you actually want versus the car the government wants you to buy? Now what?

You know, the government can steer what you’re going to spend your money on by saying some things we’ll charge you bigger transaction fees. It just gives endless ways to manipulate the economy down the road. Because you don’t have the option of saying “You know what, I don’t like any of this so I’m taking my money out of the bank.” You can’t because there’s no cash. – David Haggith

More: https://www.sprottmoney.com/blog/david-haggith-the-economy-is-failing-all-over-the-world-the-daily-coin.html

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

**Carol** Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:49 pm

Carol

Carol: Admin; Posts : 32911
Join date : 2010-04-07
Location : Hawaii

Post n°400

Re: INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

Carol Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:49 pm

China is buying up American companies fast, and it's freaking people out

China is buying up companies around the world at a record rate — and it's great news for Wall Street

9,000 Chinese villagers are being displaced to build this massive radio telescope in search of alien life

China just began printing an unexpectedly large amount of money
Here's a story you'll be hearing about a lot this year.

Chinese companies have been buying up foreign businesses, including American ones, at a record rate, and it's freaking lawmakers out.

There is General Electric's sale of its appliance business to Qingdao-based Haier, Zoomlion's bid for the heavy-lifting-equipment maker Terex Corp., and ChemChina's record-breaking deal for the Swiss seeds and pesticides group Syngenta, valued at $48 billion.

Most recently, a unit of the Chinese conglomerate HNA Group said it would buy the technology distributor Ingram Micro for $6 billion.

And the most contentious deal so far might be the Chinese-led investor group Chongqing Casin Enterprise's bid for the Chicago Stock Exchange.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-outbound-acquisitions-concerns-2016-2

China just began printing an unexpectedly large amount of money
Jim Edwards

Feb. 17, 2016, 8:39 AM
china money watermelonsREUTERS/Stringer

China is printing a lot of money.

In January, M2 growth — or cash in circulation, essentially — reached 14%, a 19-month high, exceeding analyst expectations of about 12%.

The money was injected into the economy in the form of renminbi loans.

In a note to clients, Deutsche Bank argued that this growth in cash was unsustainable and threatened financial stability.

According to data from Deutsche Bank and Macquarie:

New loans surged to 2.5 trillion renminbi, compared with 1.5 trillion in the prior year. The expectation was for only 1.9 trillion.

New loans set a record, more than quadruple the December total of 598 billion.

In January, the ratio of debt to gross domestic product increased by about 5 percentage points, "the fastest pace since Jan 2010," according to Macquarie.

Here's a chart showing cash growth running ahead of economic growth, at left, and the total amount of newly issued loans leaping upward in January:

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/china-m2-printing-money-2016-2

_________________
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night, the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
With deepest respect ~ Aloha & Mahalo, Carol

tMoA

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL PROGRESS REPORT - part 1

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