Financial Markets and Economy
Here's how you'll know if Trump is making America's economy great again (Business Insider)
President Donald Trump promised frequently throughout his campaign to "Make American great again" or "MAGA."
There's a Big Reason Volatility Might Be Coming Back (Bloomberg)
Even with the bond market’s muted response to the Federal Reserve’s plan to begin winding down its almost $4.3 trillion portfolio of mortgage and Treasury securities, there are plenty of reasons why the calm probably won’t last.
A conflicted stock market faces moment of truth as earnings loom (Market Watch)
After being stuck in a state of suspended animation for the past few weeks, the stock market will finally have its moment of truth as corporate earnings begin rolling out over the next few days.
U.K. Consumer Back in the Spotlight as Wages, Inflation Diverge (Bloomberg)
U.K. consumers, touted by Mark Carney as a key to the economy’s performance, may find the squeeze on their pockets gets a little tighter this week.
Cash Is Dead. Long Live Cash. (The Wall Street Journal)
As credit card use and digital payment systems like Venmo and Android Pay spread, Americans use less and less cash to buy things.
Zero house price inflation is to be welcomed not feared (The Guardian)
Ready to go house hunting? Tradition has it that no sooner have the hot cross buns been buttered on Good Friday than potential buyers start the search for a new home. Estate agents look forward to Easter the way retailers relish Christmas, but perhaps with less exuberance this year than is customary.
'The most dangerous idea in Federal Reserve history' seems to be making a comeback (Business Insider)
Top Federal Reserve officials, including Chair Janet Yellen, have expressed concern that waiting too long to raise interest rates might force the Fed to tighten monetary policy even more quickly in the future, potentially tipping the economy into recession.
Online Retailers’ New Warehouses Heat Up Local Job Markets (The Wall Street Journal)
Retailers and logistics companies have been opening warehouses at a record pace to ensure online orders reach customers as quickly as possible. Now they’re struggling to find workers to staff them.
Bank earnings galore; Big muscle cars; Will Trump call China a currency manipulator? (CNN)
JPMorgan's (JPM) fourth quarter profits, reported in January, were better than expected. CEO Jamie Dimon said at the time that his general outlook was rosy. This week, Dimon appeared even more optimistic in his annual letter to shareholders, where he bragged about his bank's monster balance sheet.
U.S. Oil-Rig Count Climbs by 10 (The Wall Street Journal)
The number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. rose by 10 in the past week to 672, according to oil-field services company Baker Hughes Inc.
Confusion In Bond World, As Eurodollar Shorts Hit New Record High Over $3 Trillion (Zero Hedge)
One week after we observed the biggest monthly short squeeze in 10Y TSYs in history, it was a relatively calm week in the longer-end of the Treasury curve.
Companies
Forward is Silicon Valley's futuristic doctor's office that looks "like an Apple Store meets 'Westworld.'"
For $150 a month, it acts as your primary care provider, along with providing some extra perks and technology used with the intent to keep you healthier.
Technology
The uncertain future of Internet privacy (CNN)
That was how Internet service providers reacted when the Federal Communications Commission met with them to discuss new privacy protections, according to Gigi Sohn, a counselor to former FCC chairman Tom Whee
This robot suitcase will follow you around (Business Insider)
The Travelmate connects to your smartphone to follow you wherever you travel. It's an essential item to have while running through the airport.
How Microsoft got out of its vacuum and enlisted 10 million die hard fans to make a better Windows (Business Insider)
In September 2014, Microsoft did something very uncharacteristic: Not only did it introduce the new Windows 10 operating system — it invited people to try out the extremely unfinished operating system, a full year and a half before it would hit store shelves.
The 9 best affordable smartphones you can buy (Business Insider)
The days of needing to pay top dollar to get a good smartphone are dead and buried.
The smartphone is now a commodity, and as such, the costs of manufacturing something decent has decreased. That means great phones are now common around the $400 mark, and good phones are available for much less than that.
BMW’s New Waterproof Adventure Suits Protect your Body With Ceramic Particles (Digital Trends)
How much do you value your skin? That’s the question you may ask yourself when you check out the new abrasion-resistant, wind and waterproof BMW EnduroGuard adventure wear, as reported by Motorcycle.com.
3 connected car features in this luxury sedan worth trying (Venture Beat)
nnovation is not always as sporadic and spontaneous in the automotive industry as it is in other areas of technology. New apps pop up on a daily basis, and it seems like everyone on the planet is making an Alexa skill these days.
AI is now the best friend IT ever had (Venture Beat)
If you look past the hype, existential concerns, and fear that Alexa is a CIA mole, there are some genuinely exciting developments happening in the world of artificial intelligence.
Politics
Brexit Migration Cap Gets Backing of Former U.K. Tory Ministers (Bloomberg)
Prominent U.K. Conservatives backed a call to cap annual net migration at 50,000 once Britain leaves the European Union, underlining the pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to satisfy the euro-skeptic wing of her party by restricting the influx of foreign workers in any Brexit deal.
Trump’s national security adviser on Syria strike: “Russia is part of problem” (Think Progress)
In his first interview as President Donald Trump’s top national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster on Sunday backed the U.S. missile attack on Syria last week, saying “we’re prepared to do more,” even as Russian officials hint that current U.S. strategy could mean war.
Trump Administration Is Contradicting Itself On Regime Change In Syria (The Huffington Post)
The Trump administration appears divided on whether the U.S. is pursuing a policy of regime change in Syria, days after the first direct American military attack against the Syrian government.
The truth is worth fighting for (Think Progress)
On Wednesday night, we learned that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had lied under oath about his contacts with the Russian government. Since that time we’ve delivered critical reporting and analysis on this story to millions of people.
McDonnell: I could weep over Labour's reputation in Jewish community (The Guardian)
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he could “weep” over Labour’s dire reputation in the Jewish community, but refused to call for Ken Livingstone to be kicked out over his claims about Adolf Hitler’s links to Zionism.
The media loved Trump’s show of military might. Are we really doing this again? (The Washington Post)
The cruise missiles struck, and many in the mainstream media fawned.
“I think Donald Trump became president of the United States last night,” declared Fareed Zakaria on CNN, after the firing of 59 missiles at a Syrian military airfield late Thursday night.
Tillerson Steps Up On Syria, Russia After Avoiding Spotlight (Associated Press)
Criticized for his low-profile diplomacy, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is emerging from the shadows with a leading public role in shaping and explaining the Trump administration's missile strikes in Syria.
Republicans take control of the Supreme Court (Think Progress)
The vote effectively returns control of the judicial branch — and with it, the U.S. Constitution — to Republicans. Once Gorsuch is sworn in, Republicans will enjoy a 5–4 majority on the Supreme Court.
Speaker Who ShunsHardball Seeks Win After Health Care Loss (Associated Press)
House Speaker Paul Ryan needs a win following the collapse of his health care bill. Achieving that won't be easy for the 47-year-old leader, whose ascent as a Republican heavyweight has been marred by an embarrassing flop on the most momentous legislation he's ever handled.
Life on the Home Planet
Living a Lie: We Deceive Ourselves to Better Deceive Others (Scientific American)
People mislead themselves all day long. We tell ourselves we’re smarter and better looking than our friends, that our political party can do no wrong, that we’re too busy to help a colleague.
Dozens Killed in Two Egyptian Church Bombings on Palm Sunday (Bloomberg)
Back-to-back bombings at two Egyptian churches on Palm Sunday killed more than three dozen people in the deadliest assault on the country’s Coptic Christian community in years. One of the targets was the seat of the Coptic Orthodox church in Alexandria.
Car bomb outside Mogadishu army base kills at least 15: military (Reuters)
A car bomb targeting senior officials leaving a military base in Mogadishu killed at least 15 people and destroyed a minibus carrying civilians, the Somali military said on Sunday, an attack claim by Islamist al Shabaab militants.
Despite U.S. missile barrage, Syria continues airstrikes against rebels (Washington Post)
Residents of the Syrian town devastated by a chemical weapons attack earlier this week said warplanes had returned to bomb them Saturday, despite a U.S. missile barrage and warnings of possible further response.
American Soldier Is Killed in Afghanistan (NY Times)
An American Special Forces soldier was killed in eastern Afghanistan during a joint operation with Afghan forces against affiliates of the Islamic State, officials said on Sunday.
"The Fate of the Furious," the much-awaited eighth installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise hits theaters on April 14.
And the film does some serious damage.
