Business

Heading into tonight's datagasm from China, SHCOMP tumbled and Yuan was strengthening (while money-market rates were ticking higher). Then it began... Retail Sales BEAT (+10.5% vs. +10.4% exp), Industrial Production  BEAT (+6.8% vs. +5.9% exp), Fixed Asset Investment BEAT (+10.7 vs. +10.4% exp) and last - but not least - GDP MEET (+6.7 vs. +6.7% exp) - though still the weakest since Q1 2009. The post-data reaction was initially opsitive but then faded fast as reality hit on the lack of stimulus coming.

As the world is now fully aware, The BOJ surprised markets in January when it set a –0.1% rate on some deposits that banks place at the central bank, effective from mid-February. Its move was designed to encourage banks to lend more, spurring higher spending and inflation. Things are not working so well...

And now, as The Wall Street Journal reports, some are already doubting the policy...

Submitted by Peter Schiff via Euro Pacific Capital,

Russian combat equipment used in Syria did have many drawbacks but the successful mission by the Russian Aerospace Troops has helped increase arms exports. During an annual televised Q&A session president Vladimir Putin vowed to examine the many drawbacks that had surfaced in the operation of Russian combat equipment in Syria. “I shall be honest, there are many of them. Everything is now carefully being examined by experts.“ Putin mentioned that demand for Russian weapons have increased worldwide forcing the opening of new manufacturing plants, putting Russia second behind the U.S.

Authored by Danielle DiMartino Booth, former adviser to Dallas Fed's Dick Fisher

Volcker, Greenspan, Bernanke and Yellen.

Which one does not belong? Logic dictates that Volcker should have been odd man out. After all, there is no legendary “Volcker Put.”