Business

Less than six months after we pointed out that the BoJ owns 52% of the entire Japanese ETF market, Reuters reports that the Kuroda's Peter Pan fairy tale, aka the Bank of Japan, is thinking about buying even more. The BoJ is said to be currently buying $30 billion of ETF's a year under its current policy, however since the Nikkei is down over 10% this year, that figure is apparently not enough to keep the market propped up.

Here's how the BoJ's holdings in the Japanese ETF market looked visually in recent months:

Janet - you have a problem. Following the all-clear from China, soaring stock prices, and 'stability' in oil, Chicago Fed business conditions just hit a 17-month high. In other words, The Fed is gonna need some bigger 'turmoil' excuses or defending "no rate hikes" is going to look a whole lot more political than their independence would suggest.

Everything is awesome in Chicago too...

As The Chicago Fed notes:

The energy bankruptcy wave has been officially unleashed.

After just yesterday Energy XXI became the latest shale company to seek bankruptcy protection, this morning another troubled energy producer, Goodrich Petroleum announced a prepackaged Chapter filing meant to implement a financial reorganization after struggling to restructure its debt amid declining energy prices.

• Global stocks, dollar and oil cool ahead of Doha meeting (Reuters)
• Oil Falls Before Doha as Global Markets Brace for Weekend Risk (BBG)
• China Growth Slows; Revival Policies Appear to Gain Traction (WSJ)
• White House hopefuls Clinton, Sanders joust in Brooklyn brawl (Reuters)
• Trump talks up 'New York values' as protesters demonstrate against him (Reuters)
• Sanders Can’t Clarify Wall Street Plan in Testy Clinton Debate (BBG)
• Goldman's Blankfein Said to Push Deepest Cost Cuts in Years (BBG)

Good news is still bad news after all.

After last night's China 6.7% GDP print which while the lowest since Q1 2009, was in line with expectations, coupled with beats in IP, Fixed Asset Investment and Retail Sales (on the back of $1 trillion in total financing in Q1)...