Weekend Reading: 6-7 February 2021

Global Macro / Markets / Investing:

Cannabis stocks rally anew as $7 billion GW Pharma deal spurs interest in weed and its medical benefits – MarketWatch
Dogecoin surges after a one-word Elon Musk tweet – MarketWatch
Amazon intensifies ‘severe’ effort to discourage first-ever US warehouse union – The Guardian
How To Print Money Without Causing Inflation – John McCone
GameStop, AMC, and Other ‘Meme Stocks’ Collapse – NY Times
Wall Street is keeping very close tabs on WallStreetBets. Here’s how – CNN

Americas:

How one billionaire family bankrolled election lies, white nationalism — and the Capitol riot – Salon
The U.S. Economy Excels at One Thing: Producing Massive Inequality — Professor Wolff
Most voters want a big stimulus — and they want it fast – Business Insider
US unemployment claims fall to 779,000 but job cuts grind on – WHIO
High levels of toxic heavy metals found in some baby food: U.S. report – Reuters
Portion of US Homes Considered Equity-Rich Exceeded 30 Percent – Christophe Barraud
White House reviewing whether Biden can take action to cancel student loan debt – The Hill
Puerto Rican businesses hang on in an economy shaped by disaster – Market Place

Europe:

Covid-19: UK ‘must come down hard’ on South Africa variant – Canada Forums
UK asks EU for Brexit grace period extension to 2023, BBC reports – Reuters
‘Global Britain’ pivoting fast and hard to Asia – Asia Times
Russian doctor who treated Navalny after poisoning has died – CNN
EU plans to ban vaping in public places as part of drive to slash tobacco use by 2040 – Independent
Macron: EU shouldn’t gang up on China with US – Politico

Asia:

South Korea Leads World in Innovation as U.S. Exits Top Ten – Bloomberg
New chart shows China could overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy earlier than expected – CNBC
China’s internet users hit 989 million in 2020 – Asia Times
Bids for shares of TikTok rival Kuaishou reach triple of IPO price – Nikkei
Xinjiang’s economic, social development praised – China Daily
China Stockpiles Chips and Chip-Making Machines to Resist U.S. – Bloomberg

Trans-Tasman:

As Christine Holgate gave four Australia Post staff a Cartier watch, at least 900 public servants received larger bonuses – ABC News
Victoria’s gay conversion bill passes Upper House – ABC
“World’s biggest battery” at Kurri Kurri will deflate Morrison’s gas dreams – Renew Economy
Liberal Party MP David Coleman ineligible to sit in parliament? – Michael West
ASIO Could Use Tracking Devices On Advocacy Groups and Journalists in the Future – Gizmodo
If you thought the pandemic would bring on an era of affordable housing in Australia – you were wrong – The Guardian
‘No clear need’: Victoria and Queensland blast Coalition’s industrial relations changes – The Guardian
COVID vaccine rollout the ultimate test for Scott Morrison’s credentials on ‘delivery’ – ABC
Bing: Microsoft’s manipulatable search engine could drive disinformation – New Daily
Chinese company’s multi-billion-dollar plan for island just off Australian mainland – ABC
Business confidence is up – but so are costs – Interest.co.nz
The number of new homes consented hit an all time high in the fourth quarter of last year – Interest.co.nz
Inflation expectations rocket higher – Interest.co.nz

About
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Unconventional Economist

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness.
Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.

Latest posts by Unconventional Economist (see all)

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Recent Performance*	3 years	Inception*
Tactical Growth	6.9%	8.3%
International	12.2%	13.9%

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