Archive - May 2015

Over the years, many have tried to prevent John Kerry from inserting his foot in his mouth and failed. Today, none other than Kerry himself achieved just that, both literally and metaphorically. America's Secretary of State went biking in the French Alps when he hit a curb, and broke his femur. Not to worry: he is expected to make a full recovery and was in good spirits, according to John Kirby. And just to make sure of that, US taxpayers will be invoiced a little over a million so that a specially equipped airplane picks up the SecState "to ensure he remains comfortable and stable throughout the flight."

On Sunday, PM Alexis Tsipras penned a lengthy statement expressing his frustration at creditors’ insistence on presenting what he calls “absurd proposals” even as the Greek delegation has gone most of the way towards meeting the troika’s demands. "Judging from the present circumstances, it appears that this new European power is being constructed, with Greece being the first victim. To some, this represents a golden opportunity to make an example out of Greece. If some, however, think or want to believe that this decision concerns only Greece, they are making a grave mistake. I would suggest that they re-read Hemingway’s masterpiece, 'For Whom the Bell Tolls.'"

There's Amazon, and then there's the aptly named "Posh" - Bloomberg's own internal Craigs List-type marketplace, open only to terminal subscribers. From a "spectacular" new construction French manor in Greenwich, CT, to a $4.3 million "Inside deal, won't last") 3 bedroom loft in Greenwich Village, to countless Aston Martins, Ferraris, Porsches, if the rich (and Libor, equity, gold and FX-manipulating) are selling it, you will find it on Posh.

Countries like Spain and Portugal may by now scratch their heads about taking a hard line on the Greek issue. They may not have fully realized to what extent the eurozone is indeed a shared commitment. All eurozone nations now have at least another 30 days to think that over. The main risk in that period is that Greece may decide to leave on its own.

There is always a way out for Greece. But at what cost?

There is no denying that the secret negotiations among unelected elites appointed by TPP members may result in the lowering of trade barriers for selected friends of the global regulators. This cronyist system of rewards and punishments for global favorites, however, should most certainly not be confused with free trade.

Greece and its creditors are set to miss a self-imposed Sunday deal deadline as talks are still ongoing, an unnamed official tells Reuters. Meanwhile, Kathimerini says "government officials attending an emergency summit under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Saturday prepared a draft agreement as Greek sources cited by the Athens-Macedonia News Agency indicated that negotiators in Brussels were close to a deal on value added tax, curbing early retirements and the gradual merging of pension funds." And so it continues.

"Whether we will establish an ADIZ in the South China Sea will depend on whether our maritime security will be threatened," Adm. Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army said at a security event in Singapore on Sunday. China also claims its man-made islands in the Spratlys are primarily for providing "international public services." Its regional neighbors aren't so sure.

A non-bombastic look at the week ahead and a number of key events in June.  These could set the tone for Q3 and beyond.

Will a robot steal your job? It turns out that the answer depends on the prevailing macroeconomic conditions much more than people think.

"Americans are ignorant and lazy."--Shepard Fairey

While we are used to hearing of the 100s of "close encounters" between NATO and Russian planes,but, as reported by state news agency RIA - citing an anonymous source in Russia's armed forces, Russian military aircraft were scrambled to head off a U.S. warship that was acting "aggressively" in the Black Sea. This appears to be the first reported ship-to-plane 'encounter' and, just as US and China tensions are escalating in the South China Sea, it appears US and Russian military 'discussions' are shifting from words and proxy-fighting.

So let's say that somehow Greece kicks every can left until the end of 2015. Surely Greece will be out of the woods then, right. Wrong. Because for Europe's most devastated country, it is only then that the debt nightmare officially begins.

"What's mine is yours, for a fee," is the mantra of the new normal "sharing economy," as various segments of our heretofore under-utilized assets are variously 'rented' out for the enjoyment of others. However, as a report by the Rhode Island Department of Health suggests, perhaps we are sharing just a little too much. Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in the US, with health officials pointing the finger at casual sex arranged through social media as "the perfect storm." With gonorrhea up 30%, HIV infections up by 33%, and syphilis soaring a shocking 79% in the last year alone, perhaps they have a point.

Greece still has one card left to play in fractious negotiations with creditors: the so-called 'Russian pivot'. Over the course of difficult talks between Syriza and the troika Moscow has, at various times, sought to take advantage of the hostilities between Athens and Brussels by making a series of overtures including the possibility of Greece joining the BRICS bank. Now, at least one Greek official says the country will likely accept the invite.