Archive - Jul 30, 2013 - Story

Far Dan Loeb, gold has finally lost its lustre: "If we finally see accelerating growth rates, yields should normalize from the unusually low levels we have seen recently. The playbook for investors in that scenario is to focus on assets that will benefit from US growth while avoiding investments that are hurt when real yields rise, such as gold, emerging markets, and fixed income – all areas where we have very little exposure today. Indeed, we sold our long-held gold position early in the second quarter at approximately $1,450."

• "Ooops": Barclays reveals £12.8bn balance sheet hole (FT), Barclays Bows to Pressure With Share Sale (WSJ)
• Bank of Italy Inspecting Top Lenders' Books (WSJ)
• Obama to propose 'grand bargain' on corporate tax rate, infrastructure (Reuters)
• China injects funds into money markets, quelling fears (FT)
• Berlusconi faces verdict that could endanger Italian government (Reuters)
• Shale Threatens Saudi Economy, Warns Prince Alwaleed (WSJ)
• Qatar Finds Revolution Abroad Not as Easy as Stock Picks (BBG)
• Cities Begin Hiring Again (WSJ) - not to mention filing for bankruptcy
• Big Question Hangs Over Small-Caps (WSJ)
• China Politburo Pledges to Press On With Restructuring Economy (BBG)
• Bank Revenues Surge on Trading Over What Fed Will Do (BBG)

While the market's eyes were fixed on the near record slide in Japanese Industrial Production (even as its ears glazed over the latest commentary rerun from Aso) which did however lead to a 1.53% jump in the PenNikkeiStock market on hope of more stimulus to get floundering Abenomics back on track, the most important news from the overnight session is that the PBOC's love affair with its own tapering may have come and gone after the central bank came, looked at the surge in 7 day market repo rates, and unwilling to risk another mid-June episode where SHIBOR exploded to the mid-25% range, for the first first time since February injected RMB17 billion through a 7-day reverse repo. The PBOC also announced it would cut the RRR in the earthquake-hit Lushan area. And with that the illusion of a firm and resolute PBOC is shattered, however it did result in a tiny 0.7% bounce in the SHCOMP.