Links 7 February 2014

Global Macro / Markets:

• Bitcoin is far more than a currency for speculators – Financial Times
• Buffett widens lead in $1 million hedge fund bet – Fortune
• Emerging markets are final tweet of doomed canary in coal mine, says ultra-bear Albert Edwards – Market Watch
• Contagion Rejected as Biggest Bond Buyers Double Down on Junk – Bloomberg

North America:

• More than one in six men ages 25 to 54, prime working years, don’t have jobs – Wall Street Journal
  
• Puerto Rico needs to prepare for its default – Reuters
• Hedge Funds Preparing for $1 Trillion Property Bill: Mortgages – Bloomberg
• Half the nation’s uninsured live in just 116 counties – Washington Post
• Zell Says Residential Real Estate Outlook `Benign’ – Bloomberg

Europe:

• EU Said to Weigh Extending Greek Loans to 50 Years – Bloomberg
• Berlusconi said to be planning to stand in European elections – Financial Times
• Dutch Bankers Swear to God as Trust in Lenders Slumps – Bloomberg
• Insular ECB is playing dangerous game of chicken with deflationary world forces – The Telegraph
• Euro jumps as ECB resists calls for cut in interest rates – Financial Times

Asia:

• Real Japanese Wages Slip, Posing Challenge to ’Abenomics’ – Wall Street Journal
  
• Japan Real Wages Fall to Global Recession Low in Abe Risk – Bloomberg

Local:

• Hot property a risk to banks – The AFR
• Why bank stocks could be headed for a fall – The AFR
• Coalition talks tough in run-up to Budget – The AFR
• Business backs big trade deals – The AFR
• Mining investment warning – The AFR
• WA gas market supply still uncertain – The AFR
• Palmer inflames China row – The Australian
• Unions, Shorten reject ‘compact’ – The Australian
• Retail sales, China spur growth – The Australian
• Call for more road toll financing – The Australian
• BHP in free trade crusade – The Australian
• Australia pays the penalty for workforce awards – Business Spectator
• Ford cuts 300 Victorian jobs – The Guardian
• Where is the Government’s ‘line in the sand” on industry assistance – The Guardian
• Paying GST on education would be unpopular but progressive move – The Guardian
• Is the ABC biased? Here’s the data – The Guardian
• The real reason behind Abbott’s industrial relations war – The Age
• Ten reforms that changed Australia – The Age
• Private sector must shoulder the burden – The Age

Other:

• Maintaining Ethics in the Move From Regulator to Regulated – New York Times
• Inside Wall Street’s Most Secretive Fraternity – IB Times
• A Different Gates Is Returning to Microsoft – New York Times