Markets
BBC News – Why many of Ghana’s gold miners are giving up
Don’t fret about soaring asset prices – this time is different – FT.com
2013 was a great ride, but reality is returning | Star Tribune
Mortgage debt threatens overstretched UK households – FT.com
“In a scenario where rates rise gently to 3 per cent by 2018 – still far below their historic average – some 1.12m people would be spending more than half of their take-home pay on debt repayments. That is the widely accepted yardstick for indebtedness.”
German Yields Rise to 3-Month High on Improving Economic Outlook – Bloomberg
Stocks $3.7 Trillion Year Beats Bonds Most Ever as Funds Revive – Bloomberg
Miami dopée par une frénésie de construction
The frenzy of construction in Miami has returned, buoyed by Asian capital and South American clients.
Home Prices Back at Peaks in Some Areas – WSJ.com
“Values are up more than 13% from their 2007 high in Oklahoma City and by more than 6% in the Denver metro area. Prices are back to all-time highs in 10 of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of price data from Zillow, an online real-estate information service. Prices are within 5% of their previous peak in San Jose, Calif.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Dallas. “
Japan shares end bumper year on high note | Reuters
“Japan’s Nikkei has risen 56.7 percent in 2013, its best annual performance since 1972, urged on by aggressive monetary and fiscal stimulus.”
Rising Rates Favor Shorter Junk Bonds – WSJ.com
An Ubernerd Weighs In – NYTimes.com
“My current guess is that the Bitcoin bubble will collapse when there is some bad news, e.g., a regulator demands registration of Bitcoin wallets, people try and cash out, and find that that while it’s easy to buy bitcoins, it’s much harder to find people willing to buy back nontrivial amounts, very hard to collect the sales proceeds, and completely impossible without revealing exactly who you are.”
Emerging Markets
Indonesian Rupiah Caps Worst Year Since 2000 on Taper, Deficit – Bloomberg
Baht Drops to Lowest Since June 2010 on Speculation About Coup – Bloomberg
Turkey first of Fed Taper victims as political crisis scares investors – Telegraph
China
Chinese local government debt balloons – FT.com
Loan Sharks Smell Blood in China Waters – WSJ.com
China formally eases one-child policy – FT.com
Chinese Students in U.S. Boost Luxury Car Sales – Businessweek
Technology
Google, Apple Forge Auto Ties – WSJ.com
Inside TAO: The NSA’s Shadow Network – SPIEGEL ONLINE
Catalog Reveals NSA Has Back Doors for Numerous Devices – SPIEGEL ONLINE
NSA reportedly intercepting laptops purchased online to install spy malware | The Verge
For Tor, Publicity a Mixed Blessing | Threat Level | Wired.com
Encrypted chat service Cryptocat for iPhone rejected by Apple | The Verge
I Can’t Believe I’m Saying This, But T-Mobile Is Awesome | TechCrunch
8 Best Music Players For Android
Europe
Freizügigkeit für Rumänen und Bulgaren ist keine Gefahr | ZEIT ONLINE
This German article is about the coming free labour movement in the EU for Bulgarians and Romanians. From a wage arbitrage perspective, this will suppress wages in western Europe as it was when previous labour mobility waves from the east came into the EU. Some are fearful, particularly in the UK where the PM is inveighing against foreigners living on state benefits.
BBC News – France’s 75% tax rate gains approval by top court
Monte Paschi faces nationalization threat after cash call delay | Reuters
Spain retail sales jump 1.9 percent in November | Reuters
Germans Bury Inflation Angst as Merkel Offers New Agenda – Bloomberg
ekathimerini.com | Bundesbank chief says no to Greek haircut, yes to reformsekathimerini.com | Greek prison system collapsing – labeled ‘inhuman’
North America
Inflation, Wages, and Policy – Tim Duy’s Fed Watch
On Challenging the Fed – Tim Duy’s Fed Watch
USAA to Geico Test Voice Apps Seeking $12 Billion Savings – Bloomberg
Americans on Wrong Side of Income Gap Run Out of Means to Cope – Bloomberg
Welcome to the Police State, by David Henderson
The Aleph Blog – Warm up the Helicopter of Happiness
Japan
Special Report – Japan’s homeless recruited for murky Fukushima clean-up | Reuters
Japan mid-tier camera makers face shakeout as smartphones shatter mirrorless hopes | Reuters
Why Yasukuni Matters: The Snarls of Asian History – James Fallows – The Atlantic
Reagan Joins Kohl in Brief Memorial at Bitburg Graves – NYTimes.com
An analogous moment to Yasukuni
How to Prevent a War Between China and Japan – Bloomberg