Links 16 April 2014

Global Macro / Markets:

• Trillion-Dollar Firms Dominating Bonds Prompting Probes – Bloomberg

North America:

• Social Security stops trying to collect on old taxpayer debts – Washington Post
• Working Women Help the Economy – New York Times
• Canada’s Climate Warms to Corn as Grain Belt Shifts North – Bloomberg
• In Many Cities, Rent Is Rising Out of Reach of Middle Class – New York Times

Europe:

• Eurobank gears up for crucial but contentious capital increase – Macropolis
• How China is stoking London’s housing bubble – Breaking Views
• Why aren’t Chinese students at UK universities getting top degrees? – The Guardian
• Putin Turn to China Heralds New Look at Yuan Debt: Russia Credit – Bloomberg
• France is the new cauldron of Eurosceptic revolution – The Telegraph

Asia:

• The Fragile Middle: China’s migrant workers test urbanisation drive – Financial Times
• China New Credit Declines as Money-Supply Growth Decelerates – Bloomberg
• Chinese companies hoarding gold for collateral – Financial Times
• Japan population drops for third year straight; 25% are elderly – Japan Times
• China iron ore mountain a risk as financing crackdown bites – Reuters

Local:

• An interesting debate about housing affordability – Matt Cowgill’s Blog
• Abbott’s fancy games with FTAs – The AFR
• Tax rises planned for Budget – The AFR
• How Joe Hockey should spread the Budget pain – The AFR
• Medicare to get major rejig in Budget – The AFR
• $3 billion roads bonus to come with Sydney airport – The AFR
• Pension reform to be put on hold – The Australian
• Income tax a looming target – The Australian
• Pharmacy cartel needs reform – The Australian
• Hockey “will hit poor hardest” – The Australian
• Standard of living key to competition review – Brisbane Times
• Australians for coal is the latest sign of industry in free-fall – The Guardian
• Why Hockey’s safe to debate pensions – Business Spectator