The world has not yet full realized the magnitude of the slowdown in China.

The “official” China growth numbers claim the Chinese economy is plowing along at 6%. I use quotations around the word “official” because Chinese economic data points are complete fiction.

Indeed, back in 2007, no less than current First Vice Premiere of China, Li Keqiang, admitted to the US ambassador to China that ALL Chinese data, outside of electricity consumption, railroad cargo, and bank lending is for “reference only.”

US health officials warned last week that the Zika outbreak could have more of an effect on the United States and called for additional funding to combat the virus. In fact they now want $1.9 billion to fight the “war against Zika”. To back their case, after months of scientific study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that there was now enough evidence to clearly establish that the Zika virus causes microcephaly in the newborn offspring of infected mothers. Their report was published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Some critical observations on investor positioning from BofA's Michael Hartnett

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On April 28th the current bull market in the S&P500 will become the 2nd longest ever

3 observations:

1. Quantitative Success on Wall Street

By Chris at www.CapitalistExploits.at

Taking a glance at the headlines in Europe, all I see is the world's "woes" cropping up. Either we're dealing with cowboys, or the market sentiment is decidedly bearish. I'll let you be the judge...

A reader sent a link to a story from the New York Post, about wealthy cougars who get plastic surgery to prepare for the Coachella festival. The reader added this remark from historian Lewis Mumford’s book The City In History:

“These are symptoms of the end: magnifications of demoralized power, minifications of life. When these signs multiply, Necropolis is near, though not a stone has yet crumbled. For the barbarian has already captured the city from within. Come, hangman! Come, Vulture!”