—- JapaneseGDPandExportsSeriouslyUnderperformExpectations // Mish’s Global EconomicTrendAnalysis The huge string of unexpectedly sour economic data continues to pour in. Add Japan to the spotlight. The BBC reports Japan’sQuarterlyGrowthDisappointsAheadof Sales TaxHike. Japan’s economy grew less than expected last year, despite forecasts it would benefit from a jump in spending ahead of a sales tax increase in April. Gross domestic product rose by 1% on an annualized basis … Seguir leyendo Japanese GDP and Exports Seriously Underperform Expectations

—- U.S. PlungesTo 46th InWorldPressFreedomIndex… BelowRomania // ZeroHedge SubmittedbyMikeKriegerofLibertyBlitzkriegblog, Oneofmymost popular postsof 2013 highlightedthe decline ofAmerica’s once largeandenviablemiddleclass. Itwastitled: HowDoesAmerica’sMiddleClassRankGlobally? #27, andithelpedtodispelmanymythsAmericans (particularlythemainstream propaganda media) continuetotelltothemselves. As you might expect, the economic decline of a nationinto rule by a handfulofcorruptoligarchswillhavemanyothernegativerepercussions. One of these is a loss of civil rights and freedoms that many of us have taken for granted. Reporters Without Borders puts out their … Seguir leyendo U.S. Plunges To 46th In World Press Freedom Index… Below Romania

—- ErikSolheimcallsfor OECD countriesto do more toclampdownonillicitfinancialflowsfromthedevelopingworld. – ProjectSyndicate —- Shared via myfeedlyreader Seguir leyendo Erik Solheim calls for OECD countries to do more to clamp down on illicit financial flows from the developing world. – Project Syndicate

—- Chinese Capital MarketsFrozen As BadLoansSoarToHighestSince Crisis // ZeroHedge Chinese capital markets are quietlyturmoiling as debtissues are delayed and demand for "Trust" products – the shadow-banking-system’s wealth management ‘investments’ – is tumbling. As Nikkeireports, since January, 9 companieshavepostponedorcanceledissuanceplans (around $1 billion) and is most pronounced in privately-owned companies (who lack an implicit government guarantee). This, of course, is exactly what the PBOC wanted (to instill … Seguir leyendo Chinese Capital Markets Frozen As Bad Loans Soar To Highest Since Crisis

—- The Crisis CircleIs Complete: WellsFargoReturnsTo Subprime // ZeroHedge Those of our readers focused on the state of the housing market will undoubtedly rememberthischartwe compiled using the data from the largest mortgage originator in the US, Wells Fargo. In case there is some confusion, as a result of rising interet rates (meaning the Fed is stuck in its attempts to push rates higher), the inability … Seguir leyendo The Crisis Circle Is Complete: Wells Fargo Returns To Subprime

—- GreekUnemploymentHits New Record; PeopleEmployedDropsToRecordLow; 61.4% OfYouthWithout A Job // ZeroHedge Something funny happened on the Grecovery: the Grecession…. Actually, make that the Gepression. In a nutshell – according to Elstat, Greek unemployment in November rose to a record high on both a seasonally adjusted and unadjusted basis with 28% of the labor force without a job, the number of people unemployed rose to a … Seguir leyendo Greek Unemployment Hits New Record; People Employed Drops To Record Low; 61.4% Of Youth Without A Job

—- BitcoinCrumblesTo 3-MonthLowsOnMt.Gox As CEODefendsExchange // ZeroHedge The ongoing exodus from Mt.Gox – a major Bitcoin exchange – amid withdrawal halts, has seen a massive $150 spreadopenupbetweenitandotherexchanges. Having tumbled by over 50% in the last 2 weeks, Mt. Gox pricing is back at levels first seen 3 months ago. This chaos (and the ongoing ‘finger-pointing’ over who is to blame) had led Mt.GoxCEOMarkKarpeles to come … Seguir leyendo Bitcoin Crumbles To 3-Month Lows On Mt.Gox As CEO Defends Exchange