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Worthy Insights / Opinion Pieces / Advice FT - When it comes to investing, human stupidity beats AI - Miles Johnson 4/10 * "Since their inception, financial markets have been driven by greed and fear. No matter how advanced technology becomes, human nature isn't changing. Or as billionaire Carl Icahn has
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If you were to read only one thing… The US college debt bubble is becoming dangerous. Rana Foroohar. Financial Times. 9 Apr. 2017. "Rapid run-ups in debt are the single biggest predictor of market trouble. So it is worth noting that over the past 10 years the amount
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Perspective Economist - Free exchange: How Chavez and Maduro have impoverished Venezuela 4/6 "It is hard to convey the severity of Venezuela's unfolding crisis. Its extent is astounding: the economy shrank by 10% last year, and will be 23% smaller than in 2013 by the end of
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Okay, I'm prototyping here. Bottom line it's finally gotten through my thick skull that assembling a weeks worth of content and putting it out there once-a-week is a LOT to consume all-at-once. So I'm going to try a new angle
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Increases in 401(k) leakage do not bode well for US retirements. Australian house price bubble. The hard facts about coal. Headlines NYT - Venezuela Muzzles Legislature, Moving Closer to One-Man Rule 3/30. It's been a few decades since a Latin American country has regressed into a
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Shale markets to the financial markets – can I get some more money please… Slow housing recovery sapping GDP growth. China’s smartphone users flock to risky investments. Headlines FT - Chile heads for first recession since 2009 3/23. The Chilean economy contracted 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2016
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In the markets, even more so than in life, confidence is key. The American retail apocalypse. China is stirring a hornet’s nest. Headlines FT - S&P 500 posts steepest slide since October 3/21. The S&P 500 index finally broke its 109-day streak of not
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Toronto housing market – heads up, your peak has been called. Sometimes money just needs a home (in a foreign country). First, Happy St. Patrick's Day! Headlines FT - China tries to restrict access to foreign children's books 3/10. Hearts and minds. Bloomberg - Saudi Arabia Says It
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In the UK the economy has grown but wages have declined. Does your bond index have Chinese bonds – it will soon. The Puerto Rican teacher’s pension ponzi scheme (really several US states and cities aren’t far away from a similar situation). Headlines WSJ - Macau Casinos Face Impending Shuffling
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The insurance industry in China has been good business – too good. What is the magic number for China’s foreign exchange reserves? What gives – why haven’t the share buybacks by US corporates juiced returns (passive investing)? Headlines FT - Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong charged with bribery 2/28. Lee
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Venezuela having difficulties meeting its oil delivery commitments. REITs backing away from apartments. Chinese companies lending to the tune of $2tn where bankers have pulled back. Headlines FT - Alphabet opts to spell out its stock options 2/9. Google recently let slip that it will be treating stock based pay
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Chinese companies stashing cash ($110bn) in wealth management products. Italian banking sector depending on UniCredit? Headlines FT - Bank of Japan intervenes to buy 10-year JGBs 2/3. Well for now it appears that the Bank of Japan's tolerance for the Japanese 10-year bond is about 0.