Daily Reading – January 13, 2011
FT Alphaville: Vox populi, vox stulti — US-China datapoint
FT Alphaville is not sure which set of Americans to worry about, as per these survey results from the Pew Research Center:
Either the 47 per cent who think China (GDP per capita in PPP terms in 2010: $7,517) is a bigger economic power than the United States (GDP, etcetera, $47,131)…
FT Alphaville: The graphic, gigantic, European bailout fund
An illustration by Citigroup, who reckon Europe’s Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) needs to be increased to at least €1,000bn to cover peripheral funding needs…
FT BeyondBRICs: S Korea: a small surprise
Investors in South Korea have reacted calmly to a surprise interest rate hike. It seems that they did not see Thursday’s announcement of a modest 25-point increase to 2.75 per cent coming quite so early in the New Year but had expected the central bank to move sooner or later.
FT BeyondBRICs: Indian equities: cause for concern?
When does a correction become a rout? After hitting an all-time high in late November, Indian shares suddenly seem to be in free-fall, having dropped in seven of the nine trading days of the year to date.
The Big Picture: Gross Says Pimco Not a Buyer of Portugal’s Debt at Sale
Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) — Bill Gross, manager of the world’s largest bond fund at Pacific Investment Management Co., discusses the debt sold today at auction by Portugal. Gross, who speaks with Margaret Brennan on Bloomberg Television’s “InBusiness,” also talks about the municipal bond market, Federal Reserve policy and investment strategy.
Daily Option Report: VIX Volatility Still On Hold
Well not really VIX volatility, was talking SPY stock volatility (or lack thereof) over at Investor Place. So please click thru.
Calculated Risk: Trade Deficit declined slightly in November
Total November exports of $159.6 billion and imports of $198.0 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $38.3 billion, down from $38.4 billion in October, revised. November exports were $1.2 billion more than October exports of $158.4 billion. November imports were $1.1 billion more than October imports of $196.8 billion.
Calculated Risk: NAHB Forecast: Single Family Starts to increase 21% in 2011
Home building is set for a rebound in 2011, with single-family housing starts projected to climb 21% to 575,000 units, the [National Association of Home Builders chief economist David Crowe] said Wednesday.