Financial Markets and Economy
Hare or tortoise? U.S. economy is both (Market Watch)
The snapback in hiring in June suggests the U.S. jobs market is strong enough to meet the Federal Reserve’s test for raising interest rates. Yet persistently low inflation is likely to stave off any increase probably through the end of the summer.
Crude Falls in New York as U.S. Rig Count Gains Amid Global Glut (Bloomberg)
Oil dropped after U.S. drillers increased the number of rigs operating there amid a global glut of supply.
G20 trade ministers agree to cut trade costs, increase policy coordination (DW)
Trade ministers from the world's major economies have agreed to cut trade costs and increase policy coordination. They met in Shanghai amid a slowing global economy and rising calls for protectionism.
Wall Street has a few big worries about Google’s results this quarter (Business Insider)
Investors are cautious going into Q2 earnings for Google parent company Alphabet, according to SunTrust's Robert Peck.
New All-Time High for S&P 500 Total Return Index (The Reformed Broker)
You’re free to point out all the reasons, conditions, qualifications, if’s and or but’s you’d like, but today the S&P 500 Total Return Index is printing a new all-time high.
Few Small Businesses Take Advantage of Mini-IPOs (Wall Street Journal)
Roughly a year after the passage of new rules making it easier for fledgling businesses to tap U.S. capital markets, just a handful of them have succeeded in doing so.
Hedge Funds’ Tech Metamorphosis Seen in Citadel’s Microsoft Hire (Bloomberg)
Silicon Valley watch out. The finance industry is coming after your top managers.
Bridgewater’s Flagship Fund Falters as Another Thrives (Wall Street Journal)
The world’s largest hedge-fund firm posted billion-dollar swings in its largest funds during the first half of the year, highlighting how unpredictable markets are roiling many of Wall Street’s most prominent traders.
Asian Stock Futures Pace U.S. Jump After Payrolls; Yen Steadies (Bloomberg)
Asian index futures tracked a bounce in U.S. shares, after stronger-than-anticipated U.S. jobs data soothed concern over the worlds largest economy, boosting commodities.
My Super Crash Manifesto (Money Morning)
I've noticed a great new influx of readers and commenters lately, and that warms my heart. Thank you for being here.
Taking Your Trading to the Next Level (Trader Feed)
Friday was an interesting day for me in the market. It captured a lot of what I've been doing right as a trader and a lot of what I still need to accomplish. As I shared with several colleagues, my cycle work has been looking toppy. During the recent market strength, sector participation has been uneven. Yield-sensitive shares have rocketed to new highs, while many others have lagged.
Bank of England poised to slash interest rates to new historic low (Independent)
The economy could be given a post-Brexit vote boost this week as expectations mount that the Bank of England will cut interest rates to a new historic low.
Bank governor Mark Carney has already signalled policymakers on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would vote to slash rates over the summer, suggesting a cut in July or August.
Charting The Epic Collapse Of The World's Most Systemically Dangerous Bank (Zero Hedge)
It’s been almost 10 years in the making, but the fate of one of Europe’s most important financial institutions appears to be sealed.
Politics
The Clinton Contamination (NY Times, Maureen Dowd)
WASHINGTON — IT says a lot about our relationship with Hillary Clinton that she seems well on her way to becoming Madam President because she’s not getting indicted.
If she were still at the State Department, she could be getting fired for being, as the F.B.I. director told Congress, “extremely careless” with top-secret information. Instead, she’s on a glide path to a big promotion.
Republican’s five stages of grief (OUP)
Republicans have suffered a death in their family. Sixteen established party candidates have slowly ended or suspended their presidential candidacies in the 2016 presidential election, and party leaders are trying to divine whether Donald Trump’s unthinkable ascent actually spells the end of their party as we have known it since the late 1960s.
Technology
Samsung Galaxy S7 Active Isn’t Actually Waterproof, Says Consumer Reports (Fortune)
In two tests, water caused blinking screens and ruined cameras.
Samsung has marketed its entire S7 line as remarkably durable, including in commercials featuring rapper Lil’ Wayne pouring champagne over an S7 Edge. But yesterday, Consumer Reports released results showing the S7 sibling pitched as the most durable may, in fact, be the least likely to survive such rough treatment.
A Phone That Can See Through Walls! (Forbes)
A new thermal smartphone from Caterpillar will allow contractors to see through walls.
The Cat S60 smartphone, set to be released in the U.S. in August, will feature thermal imaging. The company’s “rugged phone” line is aimed at people who may need something durable on the job.
A Robot May Soon Fix Your Car (Fortune)
Mechanics increasingly share garage space with robotic helpers.
When faced with a tricky automotive repair, Jamie Ludolph used to turn to a tome-like service manual. Today at the Atlanta car dealership where Ludolph is a master guild technician, he can turn to a robot.
Health and Life Sciences
Can 8 servings of fruits and veggies make you happier? (Futurity)
A study of 12,000 people found that those who started eating more fruits and vegetables felt much happier.
Life on the Home Planet
Are we too scared of radiation? (BBC)
It's more than five years since the earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan caused a huge leak of radioactive material into the world's oceans.
Living in some US cities is like living in the Middle Ages, statistics show (Independent)
It's easy to forget among the daily din of headline-grabbing tragedies, but historically speaking, we live in a time of unprecedented health, peace and prosperity.
Global life expectancy has more than doubled since 1900. The number of people who die in wars has plummeted. The percent of the world's population living in abject poverty is at record-low levels.
Devouring 1,000 Mosquitoes an Hour, Bats Are Now Welcome Guests as Zika Fears Rise (NY Times)
As mosquito season heats up, bringing with it the threat of the West Nile and Zika viruses, one Long Island town is taking an unorthodox approach: bats.
