Trump argues Europe is unfairly enhancing its economy: NY Times
Asian markets climbed on Wednesday in hopes of a US-China trade agreement: MW
Blackstone’s Schwarzman: A Trump-Xi meeting is unlikely to produce a trade deal: CNBC
The Federal Reserve debates the possibility of a rate cut ahead of today’s policy announcement: WSJ
The Fed is becoming increasingly politicized: Bloomberg
Businesses may consider relocating from Hong Kong due to ongoing political uncertainties: CNBC
US housing starts declined by 4.7% in May compared to last year:
Conversations about a potential recession are resurfacing, primarily for clear reasons: various crucial economic indicators are showing concerning trends. These troubling numbers have led some analysts to forecast an imminent economic contraction. We’ve encountered similar situations in recent years, only to find that such recession predictions were inaccurate. Is the scenario different this time? Will the economy finally take a downturn? The answer remains uncertain, prompting one essential question: How can we make an informed, probability-based assessment of recession risks?
The US plans to deploy additional troops to the Middle East: Reuters
Trump: ‘millions of unauthorized immigrants’ will be removed starting next week: CBS
China’s holdings of US Treasury bonds decreased to a two-year low in April: Bloomberg
Hong Kong’s leader has apologized but refuses to resign: Reuters
German economic expectations have plummeted in June: FT
The euro sharply declines after the ECB chief sets the stage for more economic stimulus: CNBC
Facebook leads a consortium to introduce a new digital currency: CNBC
Is extending the US economic expansion counterproductive? MW
The NY Fed Manufacturing Index in June hits its lowest level since late 2016: MW
US homebuilder sentiment dipped in June but still indicates growth: CNBC
Securitized real estate shares in the United States led a partial recovery in global markets last week. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) recorded a modest return, just edging out bonds from emerging markets. Overall, performance across major asset classes remained mixed for the week ending Friday, June 14, as indicated by a selection of exchange-traded funds.
Protests in Hong Kong continued on Sunday: CNN
A recently freed activist demands the resignation of Hong Kong’s leader: Reuters
Iran announces it will breach nuclear deal terms within ten days: WSJ
Trump is prepared to impose additional tariffs on China, even without a trade deal: CNBC
The Fed is expected to maintain current rates this week: Reuters
Will the Fed reflect on potential missteps? NY Times
Chinese technology giant Huawei projects a $30 billion loss in sales due to the US ban: CNN
Consumer sentiment in the US fell in June: Bloomberg
US industrial production rebounded in May: WSJ
Business inventories in the US increased in April, presenting potential challenges for growth: CNBC
The US retail spending’s one-year trend declined to a moderate +3.2% in May:
Equity Smart Beta and Factor Investing for Practitioners
By Khalid Ghayur, et al.
Summary via publisher (Wiley)
“Equity Smart Beta and Factor Investing for Practitioners” serves as a practical guide to notable investment opportunities in smart beta, a rapidly growing segment within the global equity market. This well-balanced book is written in accessible language and presents an in-depth manual filled with analytical insights and fresh ideas. The authors—esteemed experts in the field—define smart beta investing and delve into its history. They also examine the key features of smart beta strategies, provide an overview of factor investing, and explain how to implement smart beta approaches effectively. The book is comprehensive, featuring practical examples, real-life illustrative case studies, and insights from leading practitioners on their smart beta investment strategies.
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Gathering forecasts from economists regarding various economic and financial indicators and aggregating those insights has broad appeal, and rightly so. The wisdom of the crowd tends to be more reliable over time compared to any single forecaster. However, standard consensus forecasts come with their own set of challenges—issues that can be mitigated, if not completely resolved, through econometric-based methods.
The US Secretary of State attributes the attacks on tankers to Iran: CNN
Iran denies responsibility for the tanker attacks: Reuters
The International Energy Agency forecasts a decline in global oil demand to the lowest levels in years: CNBC
Trump and Warren resemble a duo of economic populists: Bloomberg
China’s manufacturing growth rate has slowed to a 17-year low in May: Reuters
Gold prices have surged to a 14-month high: WSJ
Job growth in US manufacturing accelerated in the initial two years of the Trump administration: EIG
US import prices decreased in May, marking the most significant drop in five months: Reuters
US jobless claims rose by 1.4% last week compared to the same time last year:
The Treasury market is continuously adjusting its outlook on US inflation expectations, indicating a strengthening case for a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
It is likely that Beijing will maintain control in Hong Kong despite ongoing protests: NY Times
Protests in Hong Kong continued with smaller gatherings on Thursday: Reuters
Trump announced the deployment of 1,000 troops to Poland: BBC
Oil prices surged following a tanker attack in the Gulf of Oman: Bloomberg
Europe’s industrial output fell again in April: Reuters
Business inflation expectations held steady at 2.0% in the 6th Federal Reserve District: Atlanta Fed
In May, US core consumer inflation moderated to an annual pace of 2.0%:
