Weekend Links March 1st-2nd 2014

Global Macro / Markets:

• RSA seeks to raise £775m with rights issue – Irish Times
• Japan says any bitcoin regulation should be international – Reuters
• Biggest Sovereign Fund Forced to Sell Stocks as Mandate Breached – Bloomberg
• Wall Street Hates JPMorgan Fee for $1 Trillion Junk Loans – Bloomberg
• Insight: Mt. Gox: a quick rise and even faster fall – Reuters … and bankrupt – WSJ
• Gold Fix Study Shows Signs of Decade of Bank Manipulation – Bloomberg

Americas:

• Big cut in U.S. fourth-quarter GDP growth looms – Reuters
• BEA: Q4 GDP Revised down to 2.4% – Calculated Risk
• Why the Plan to Dig a Canal Across Nicaragua Could Be a Very Bad Idea – Wired
• Janet Yellen wants ‘firmer handle’ on the weather effect on data – FT
• Yellen Sticks to Plan Amid Weather Doubts – WSJ
• U.S. Retail Chains See First Profit Decline Since Recession – Bloomberg

Europe:

• Ukraine crisis: ‘Russians’ occupy Crimea airports – BBC
• Ukraine’s Yanukovich says will ‘continue struggle for Ukraine’s future’ – Reuters
• Putin: Russia to Consider Aid to Ukraine – AP
• Ukraine currency in ‘free fall’ – Sober Look
• No deflation in eurozone: ECB chief Draghi – AFP
• Euro zone inflation remains stable at 0.8 per cent – Irish Times
• Euro Gains as Bonds Decline With Stocks on Inflation Data – Bloomberg
• Cyprus bailout hit as privatisation bill fails – BBC
• Euro zone unemployment rate steady at 12 per cent – Irish Times
• German retail sales rise at fastest rate in seven years – Reuters
• Italian unemployment rate hits record 12.9pc: official data – Business Insider
• Rome days away from bankruptcy – Telegraph
• Eurozone economic sentiment is perking up. – Money Beat

Asia:

• Beijing guides renminbi lower in effort to manage financial risks – FT
• Yuan suffers biggest weekly loss as PBOC punishes speculators – Reuters
• China to build ‘world’s largest’ smog chamber to solve pollution puzzle – SCMP

Local:

• Qantas doesn’t need a debt guarantee yet, says Warren Truss – TheOz
• 2000 Qantas staff don’t know their fate – SMH
• Tony Abbott eyes $5bn for new road funding – TheOz
• Why Woolies, Wesfarmers need to find the next big thing – AFR , SMH
• Foreigners in splurge on houses – TheOz
• Why China’s hot money has gone cold – AFR
• Andrew Forrest buys up Pilbara stations in Stowe sale – TheOz
• ANZ boss Mike Smith sells shares to fund new property – SMH

Other:

• The Robot Doll Designed to Replace Your Phone – Bloomberg
• Northern Lights illuminate the UK – BBC
• Visit a Crumbling, Soviet-Era Floating ‘Oil City’ – Atlantic