—- Japan’scurrentaccountfirmlyinthe red // Sober Look Japan’s current account continues to deteriorate, with the December number coming in below expectations – hitting a new low. For the whole of 2013 Japan showed the lowest surplus on record. Source: Investing.com Energy imports and weaker yen continue to be the key culprits. Should oil prices rise further, the nation’s deficit could worsen. Bloomberg: – The yen’s slide … Seguir leyendo Japan’s current account firmly in the red

—- ECBparalysedbyGermancourtdecision as deflationthreatens // AmbroseEvans–Pritchard – Financeandbusinesscomments The ‘thunderbolt’ ruling on eurozone rescue policies by Germany’s top court marks a serious escalation of Europe’s governance crisis —- Shared via myfeedlyreader Seguir leyendo ECB paralysed by German court decision as deflation threatens

—- JaneD’Arista – TaperingofQuantitativeEasingIsThrowingEmergingMarketsintoChaos // NAKEDKEYNESIANISM From The Real News Network Emerging markets have been reeling since the beginning of the new year. The currencies and stock markets of Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, among other countries, have declined substantially, prompting their central banks to increase interest rates to stem the outflow of capital. The emerging-market rout, the worst start to a year on record, is … Seguir leyendo Jane D’Arista – Tapering of Quantitative Easing Is Throwing Emerging Markets into Chaos

—- GoodNewsAboutOurAgeingPopulation // ZeroHedge A week doesn’t go by without hearing about the problems which will be created by the world’s rapidly ageing population. Much of the focus is on how fewer people will mean lower future economic growth. The likes of Harry Dent have popularised the idea but it’s also been given intellectual heft by thousands of demographic consultants. There’s no doubt that the … Seguir leyendo Good News About Our Ageing Population

—- EuropeStunned, Angry As Switzerland Votes ToCurbImmigration // ZeroHedge Thiswasn’tsupposedtohappen. At a time when the European Union, reeling from the ongoing near collapse of the Eurozone, has been preaching its key benefits – the removal of borders and the free transit of labor – moments ago Switzerland, with a tiny majority of 50.4% of voters, voted in favor of new immigration curbs which requires the … Seguir leyendo Europe Stunned, Angry As Switzerland Votes To Curb Immigration

—- Fake–foodscandalrevealed as testsshowthirdofproductsmislabelled —- Shared via myfeedlyreader Seguir leyendo Fake-food scandal revealed as tests show third of products mislabelled

—- Kyodo: ‘Massive’ amountofFukushima data wrong? “Figures can’t be trusted” — NHK: Strontium-90 byoceanat 160,000 times limit — Tepco: Actual levels “exceededtheupperlimitofmeasurement… We are verysorry” —- Shared via myfeedlyreader Seguir leyendo Kyodo: ‘Massive’ amount of Fukushima data wrong? “Figures can’t be trusted” — NHK: Strontium-90 by ocean at 160,000 times limit — Tepco: Actual levels “exceeded the upper limit of measurement… We are very sorry”

—- SpainExportsItsConstructionModel, WithPredictablyDireConsequences // TestosteronePit By Don Quijones: When a consortium, led by the Spanish company Sacyr, bid to expand the Panama Canal for $2 billion under budget, it was an offer Panama couldn’t refuse. What the government didn’t know at the time was how Spanish construction firms operate. —- Shared via myfeedlyreader Seguir leyendo Spain Exports Its Construction Model, With Predictably Dire Consequences

—- PresidentialPalaceIn Bosnia SetOnFire As RiotsBreakOutProtesting 40% Unemployment // ZeroHedge Another day, another European nation is hit by violent riots as protests over the economy and corruption spilled over violently into the street, this time Bosnia where more than 150 people were wounded on Friday in the worst civil unrest in the country since the 1992-95 war. The reason: anger over the dire state of … Seguir leyendo Presidential Palace In Bosnia Set On Fire As Riots Break Out Protesting 40% Unemployment