News: 2013-12-27

Technology

Norge varnas för svenskt spionage | Världen | SvD

Norway has been warned that spying – including industrial espionage against Norwegian oil – can be conducted via Sweden through which much of Norwegian internet traffic transits.

Researchers show why the NSA’s phone metadata is far from anonymous | The Verge

Amazon sold 426 items per second in run-up to Christmas | The Verge

Video Boom Forces Verizon to Upgrade – WSJ.com

Social media: Why do Germans shun Twitter? | The Economist

 

Japan

Abenomics Drives Japan Hedge Funds to World’s Top Performers – Bloomberg

Japanische Wirtschaftspolitik: Der anfängliche Zauber von Abe verblasst – Wirtschaftspolitik Nachrichten – NZZ.ch

This German-language Swiss article notes that Abenomics is now one year old. Most of the change has been via QE, devaluation and stock price increases. But Abenomics, one year on has produced “nothing new” policy-wise. More and more people are becoming sceptical. I agree.

 

North America

Where the 1.3M people losing unemployment aid this week live – The Washington Post

A Non-Monetary Explanation for Inflation | Inside Investing

Is Inflation About to Come Back? – Bloomberg

Tea Party alters strategy to turn populist anger into Senate seats – FT.com

Local courts reviving ‘debtors’ prison’ for overdue fines, fees | Fox News

Canadian troops mark last holiday in Afghanistan | Toronto Star

 

Markets

Bullishness Jumps to Three-Year High – MoneyBeat – WSJ

More than half of U.S. clueless about Bitcoin: poll | Toronto Star

Bond Downgrades Escalate With Leverage Highest Since 2007 – Bloomberg

Treasury 10-Year Note Yields Reach Highest Level Since September – Bloomberg

 

Europe

Slovenian beer turns sour as state fire sale looms | Reuters

UK house prices expected to rise 8% in 2014 | Money | The Guardian

Disabled Kinver man killed himself after being left “almost destitute” when his state benefits were axed (From Stourbridge News)

Bargain hunters create a Boxing Day boom for retailers | Business | The Guardian

French unemployment rises to 3.29m | World news | The Guardian

 

Emerging Markets

Erdogan Resignation Call Chokes Lira Prop-Up Plan: Turkey Credit – Bloomberg

Bjørn Lomborg argues that environmental imperatives should not trump the needs of the poor. – Project Syndicate

ekathimerini.com | Cyprus unemployment rate reaches 16.2 percent

finance news