Links 21 August 2020

Global Macro / Markets / Investing:

• CEOs now earn 320 times more than average workers. Worker pay has increased by 13.7% since 1978. CEO pay has increased by 1,167%. – Fast Company
• U.S. dollar trading at its worst level in more than two years – Crypto Price
• Apple becomes first U.S. company to reach a $2 trillion market cap – Vulms
• As Apple nears a $2 trillion market valuation, trader is wary of one factor – CNBC
• Amazon Plans To Add 3500 JOBS Across Six US Cities – Tech Review
• Degrowth: These Folks Think Eternal Economic Growth Will Lead to Unstoppable Climate Change – Bloomberg

Americas:

• “A Disturbing Milestone”: America’s Top 12 Plutocrats Now Own $1 Trillion in Wealth – Mint Press News
• HUD to extend foreclosure ban protecting 8.1 million people until 2021 – Politico
• Monopoly Power Lies Behind Worst Trends in U.S., Fed Study Says – Bloomberg
• Expired Jobless Benefits Cost Economy Billions, But Some States Reject Trump’s Aid – NPR
• Corporate Landlords Have Gotten Government Aid. Tenants Haven’t – The Appeal
• Fed staff lowers forecast for economic growth over the rest of year: FOMC minutes – MarketWatch
• Can The U.S. Economy Survive Without Immigration? – News Nation
• Trump says coronavirus is ‘God testing me’ to build economy again – The Week

Europe:

• European Countries Will Keep Implementing Restrictive Measures Amid Covid-19 Resurgence – Christophe Barraud
• As the EU focuses on Belarusian protests, it ignores the protests in Bulgaria, which are on their 42nd consecutive day – Euractiv
• Sweden records highest death tally in 150 years in first half of 2020 – The Guardian
• EU to impose Belarus sanctions over election fraud, violence, says Michel – ekathimerini.com
• Germany begins 3-year universal-basic-income trial – Business Insider
• UK to remain with EU CO2 emission regulations – Electrive

Asia:

• Getting out of China will cost U.S. and European firms $1 trillion, says BofA – RPLG
• Why a Chinese pharma company’s Covid vaccine has panicked US biotech Moderna’s investors – Fool
• World Bank President Takes Aim at $1.5 Trillion Global Debt Owed to China – Capital Watch
• Digital Yuan Trials Expand to More Affluent Regions of China – Forex Review
• China sentences second Canadian citizen to death in two days – Independent
• China’s Forced Sterilization of Uyghur Women Violates Clear International Law – Just Security
• China makes criticizing CPP rule in Hong Kong illegal worldwide – Axios

Trans-Tasman:

• PM’s department delayed survey showing Australians don’t trust government – The Guardian
• Farmers want net zero emissions, going further than Morrison government – The SMH
• Service NSW tells farmers to put sheep on planes to get around border restrictions – ABC
• ‘Desperate’ Australian hotels want overseas passenger caps raised to fill quarantine rooms – The Guardian
• Fears overflowing medical waste outside aged care home will spread virus – ABC
• Coronavirus hotel quarantine in WA may be enforced with ankle bracelets for people deemed a flight risk – ABC
• ‘Dog’s breakfast’: Audit finds consumers confused by recycling labels – The SMH
• Labor Party could split in 20 years, warns Joel Fitzgibbon – ABC
• Coalition’s university funding overhaul will fail to meet rising demand for student places, Greens say – The Guardian
• Overseas student numbers down by 12.5% in July compared to year ago – Interest.co.nz
• More mortgage mayhem – Interest.co.nz
• Auckland Airport says recovery of international traffic ‘will take longer than three years’ – Interest.co.nz