Europe

Thousands took to the streets around the world to mark International Workers Day on May Day with several demonstrations erupting into violence. Demonstrations which started peaceful turned violent with police deploying tear gas and water cannon. Tensions over the global economic slump fuelled the May Day riots and protests with trouble breaking out in various parts of Europe and Turkey. One man was reportedly killed in Istanbul as he was ran over by a police water cannon vehicle.

Following what was one of the most volatile Q1’s on record, Q2 kick started the second quarter on a positive note in April. According to DB (whose stock has failed to meaningfully rebound from recent lows) while performance didn’t quite match those lofty gains made in March, in the face of a number of key central bank meetings and also the commencement of earnings season in the US and Europe – for which expectations were low – risk assets in particular have shown a reasonable degree of resilience on the whole.

• Puerto Rico Development Bank Won’t Make Most of a Debt Payment Monday (WSJ)
• Why the jump in futures? Tokyo slide keeps mood downbeat (Reuters)
• Indiana to test Donald Trump’s staying power with evangelicals (Reuters)
• Gold Rallies Above $1,300 for First Time Since January 2015 (BBG)
• This Tech Bubble Is Bursting (WSJ)
• Valeant’s CEO Was Key Force on Pricing (WSJ)
• US banks sound caution on commercial property loans (FT)
• As oil plows through $45 a barrel, U.S. producers rush to lock in prices (Reuters)

It has been a busy weekend for mostly negative newsflow.

Fear Internationalization? It Could Mean Financial Security

Written by Jeff Thomas (CLICK FOR ORIGINAL)

In the early sixteenth century, the Hunt-Lenox globe was drawn, showing uncharted (and presumably dangerous) areas, marked with the warning: “HIC SVNT DRACONES” – “Here are Dragons.”