News: 2014-01-15

Economy

Productivity crisis haunts global economy – FT.com

“The failure of overall efficiency – known to economists as total factor productivity – to grow in 2013 results from slower economic growth in emerging economies alongside continued rapid increases in capital used and labour inputs. Labour productivity growth also slowed for the third consecutive year. The decline in total factor productivity continues a trend of recent years in which the remarkable rise in the efficiency of emerging markets has slowed and in advanced economies it has declined. “

Luxury consumer base to keep growing: study | Reuters

 

North America

Fed’s Fisher: Glad Fed Tapered, but First Cut Should Have Been Bigger – Real Time Economics – WSJ

Dallas Fed’s Fisher wanted $20 billion taper – MarketWatch

Fed’s Plosser: Weak December Jobs Data Shouldn’t Affect Taper – Real Time Economics – WSJ

Fed’s Plosser Sees ‘No Rush’ to Raise Rates as Taper on Course – Bloomberg

Fed to Release Plan to Limit Banks’ Commodities Activities – Bloomberg

Fannie, Freddie watchdog in probe of alleged Wall Street front running

Retail Sales Rise 0.2% in December – WSJ.com

Vital Sales: Retailers See Sales and Inventories Rise in Fourth Quarter – Real Time Economics – WSJ

The solution to income inequality and immobility? It’s been right in front of us all along | AEIdeas

How Big Money Keeps Populism at Bay | Alternet

Democrats concede to curb funds for Wall Street regulators in spending bill | World news | theguardian.com

Penis pumps cost U.S. government millions, watchdog cries waste | Reuters

Canadian house prices buoyed in 2013 by rebound of Toronto, Vancouver markets | Toronto Star

Bankers fear car loan and credit card delinquencies | Toronto Star

Most Canadians believe the country is still in recession, Pollara survey finds | Toronto Star

 

Technology

N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers – NYTimes.com

The winners and losers in the landmark net neutrality ruling

Senator Al Franken Condemns Today’s Net Neutrality Ruling | TechCrunch

Target, Neiman Marcus Credit Card Hacking Reveals Third-World US Payment Systems | naked capitalism

T-Mobile Pricing Seen as Obstacle for Any Sprint Merger – Bloomberg

Tesla Outlines Plan for China Charging Stations – WSJ.com

 

Markets

European Stocks Hit Six-Year High – WSJ.com

General Motors to Pay First Dividend Since 2008 – WSJ.com

Wells Fargo calls Bitcoin summit on ‘rules of engagement’ – FT.com

Bitcoin Anonymity Upgrade Zerocoin To Become An Independent Cryptocurrency – Forbes

 

Elsewhere

The Wolf of Wall Street attracts new complaints from disability groups | Film | theguardian.com

 

Emerging Markets

China’s shadow banking loans leap – FT.com

Is China’s Focus on Reform Clouding the Picture on Shadow Banking? – China Real Time Report – WSJ

Oil in Venezuela: brave investors needed

Argentina: top-end car tax starts to bite | beyondbrics

 

Europe

German GDP growth disappoints – FT.com

Punch Taverns warns of default if restructuring fails | Business | theguardian.com

Danish Banks Face Tougher Credit Rules to Tackle Record Debt – Bloomberg

Eurozone industrial production rebounds sharply – Telegraph

Lithuania’s Algirdas Butkevicius promises to join euro or resign – FT.com

Scandinavian Debt Crisis Waiting to Happen Puzzles Krugman – Bloomberg

Brussels May Force Germany To Loosen Access to Social Benefits – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Russia builds clout in eastern Europe with €10bn loan to Hungary – FT.com

Zombie Banks – QuickTake

 

Japan

Japan No Longer an Export Powerhouse – Real Time Economics – WSJ