Hard hitting global and local news
Eurozone PMI Strengthens, Except France; Germany-France Yield Spread Widens; Where to From Here? The Eurozone composite PMI hit its highest since June 2011, but it did so with France still in contraction as noted by the Markit Flash Eurozone PMI .
Anousha Sakoui, M&A Correspondent for the Financial Times says Huge cash pile puts recovery in hands of the few . The pile of unspent corporate cash that has built up since the start of the financial crisis is being held by an increasingly concentrated pool of companies that will be crucial to hopes of a pick-up in business investment to stimulate the world economy.
More here: Italian Banks Need Extra $57 Billion for Loan Loss Reserves, 18% of Loans Non-Performing
A new Gallup survey shows Many Baby Boomers Reluctant to Retire . True to their "live to work" reputation, some baby boomers are digging in their heels at the workplace as they approach the traditional retirement age of 65
Target Drops Healthcare Coverage for Part-Time Workers, Claims No Reduction in Hours; Thank Your Employer? Obamacare does not mandate healthcare coverage for part-time employees (defined as those working less than 30 hours a week)
Originally posted here: China Abandons Disastrous Cotton Stockpiling Program; Lessons Not Learned; What About Stockpiling Money?
View the original here: US Feigns "Horror" Over Cooked-Up Report on Syrian War They Engineered
Please consider Breaking Out Is Hard by Andie Xie. The global economy is unlikely to accelerate in 2014. The hope that the U.S
From November 11, 2011, RPJr says : The Obama Administration has put off a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline until immediately after the 2012 election. At that point a newly elected Republican president will be able to quickly approve it or President Obama can do the same without concern for an upcoming election. Responding to enviro claims that rejecting the original Keystone application was a victory, RPJr continues: Let’s return to this February, 2013 and see if "victory" still smells as sweet — when plans re-emerge for crude oil flowing south, regardless of who wins the election.
Just the day before the first deadly grenade attack, TIME Magazine would report in its article, " Bangkok Shutdown: Yingluck Supporters Prepare to Fight for Democracy ," that: As Thailand’s anti-government protests enter their fourth day, observers say prospects for violent confrontation are increasing, with reports of government supporters stockpiling weapons in case of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s ouster. According to the Bangkok Post, radical members of the Red Shirts — diehard champions of Yingluck and her notorious brother Thaksin Shinawatra — are readying a cache of arms  in case the 46-year-old premier is forced from office by either military or judicial intervention. The paper quoted a Red Shirt source as saying “There are strong anti-coup and anti-court sentiments among the red-shirt mavericks who are familiar and experienced with weapon use.†Police loyal to the regime have also made overt threats, claiming they were preparing an armed campaign against protesters  if elections were delayed in a systematic pattern of violence that have become the notorious hallmarks of Thaksin Shianwatra’s regime – leaving no doubt as to who is behind recent attacks. Astonishingly, after conducting a concerted campaign of terror against Occupy Bangkok protesters, the regime is now issuing an "emergency decree" prohibiting gatherings and inviting in draconian tactics to deal with those who defy the decree. Thailand’s English paper The Nation would report in their article, " State of emergency announced ," that: The caretaker Cabinet announced the state of emergency for Bangkok and some parts of nearby provinces, which will last 60 days. The state of emergency was announced on TV by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung