Europe

According to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), sales of Electrically Chargeable Vehicles (which include plug-in hybrids) in Q1 of 2017 were brisk across much of Europe: they rose by 80% Y/Y in eco-friendly Sweden, 78% in Germany, just over 40% in Belgium and grew by roughly 30% across the European Union... but not in Denmark: here sales cratered by over 60% for one simple reason: the government phased out taxpayer subsidies.

Authored by Don Quijones via WolfStreet.com, 

Stockholders and junior bondholders fear another “bail-in.”

Donald Trump's controversial visit to the UK is on hold, according to the Guardian, which reports that the US president, leery of protests upon his arrival, spoke with Prime Minister Theresa May and told her "he didn’t want to proceed with a state visit to U.K. until he received more support for the trip." Trump reportedly told May that he did not want to come if there were "large-scale protests and his remarks in effect put the visit on hold for some time."

Authored by Nick Giambruno via The Mises Institute,

France’s new president can’t keep the European Union together.

In early May, France elected globalist darling Emmanuel Macron. His victory gave the EU a short-term boost. However, it did not change the fundamental problems with Europe’s artificial mega-state.

Doug Casey agrees:

Authored by Chris Martenson via PeakProsperity.com,

Let me begin with a caveat: confirmation bias is an ever-present risk for an analyst such as myself.

If you're not familiar with the term, 'confirmation bias' suggests that once we've invested time and emotional energy into developing a worldview, we'll then seek information to confirm that view.