Macro Briefing: 17 October 2018

Suspects in Khashoggi case are linked to Saudi Crown Prince: NY Times
High-ranking Saudi officer reportedly oversaw Khashoggi interrogation: CNN
After Saudi talks on Khashoggi, Pompeo meets with Turkey’s Erdogan: Reuters
IMF’s chief postpones trip to the Middle East, including Saudi event: CNBC
Trump to Central America: he’ll withhold funds over immigrant ‘caravan’: The Hill
China defends locking up Muslim minority in Xinjiang region: BBC
US industrial output rose for fourth straight month in September: MarketWatch
Homebuilder sentiment in US strengthened in October: HousingWire
US job openings jumped to 7.14mm in Aug, a record high for the series: Reuters

Macro Briefing: 16 October 2018

Budget deficit for US surged to six-year high of $779 billion in fiscal 2018: AP
Saudis reportedly plan to admit that Khashoggi died during interrogation: CNN
US retail sales edged up 0.1% in Sep, well below economists’ expectations: CNBC
Fidelity launches cryptocurrency trading desk for institutions: CNBC
Inflation in China accelerated for fourth straight month in Sep: Bloomberg
ECRI: US housing market at risk of cycle downturn: Bloomberg
NY Fed Mfg Index edges higher, pointing to ongoing strength in sector: MW
Business inventories in US up sharply in August: MW
Gold rises to 2-1/2 month high: $1230 an ounce:

Macro Briefing: 15 October 2018

IEA: “expensive energy… poses a threat to economic growth”: CNBC
Saudi Arabia vows to retaliate over any sanctions re: Khashoggi case: Reuters
Brexit talks falter over Northern Ireland border: BBC
Bavaria’s election threatens German Chancellor’s ‘grand coalition’: LA Times
Import prices for US rise more than forecast due to rebound in energy: CNBC
Sears files for bankruptcy: CNN
China’s Shanghai Composite Index falls to 4-year low: Bloomberg
US Consumer Sentiment Index slipped in early Oct, but still elevated: MW
Is softer US bank lending a warning sign for the economy? NY Times

Book Bits | 13 October 2018

The Four Pillars of Portfolio Management: Organizational Agility, Strategy, Risk, and Resources
By Olivier Lazar
Summary via publisher (CRC Press)
Portfolio management consists mainly of making decisions about which initiatives to undertake, which initiatives not to pursue, and which resources are to be allocated to which portfolio component. At least, that’s how it is most commonly presented in textbooks and courses. Indeed, it is all of that, but it is also so much more. Portfolio management is, of course, about making these decisions, but, more accurately, it is about making them with the goal of creating value for an organization’s wide population of stakeholders, both internal and external. This value is not only expressed in financial terms but also in social terms. The portfolio should create value for all stakeholders, who thereby support the portfolio organization and enable it to sustain itself.
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Macro Briefing: 12 October 2018

Amid rising trade tensions, Trump and Xi plan to meet in late November: WSJ
China’s exports surged in September: Reuters
Stocks in Europe and Asia rebound in Fridays’ trading: Bloomberg
Audio and video evidence proves Saudi journalist killed in consulate: WaPo
Firms rethink working with Saudi Arabia after journalist disappears: NY Times
Sidestepping the next recession could be difficult: The Economist
S&P 500 fell below 200-day avg on Thurs for first time since April: CNBC
Jobless claims rose last week but remain close to 49-year low: CNBC
US consumer inflation slowed in September: MarketWatch

Macro Briefing: 11 October 2018

Hurricane Michael ravages Florida, heads to Carolinas: CNN
US arrests Chinese military intel official for economic espionage: NY Times
US intel: Saudi crown prince ordered detention of journalist Khashoggi: CNBC
US futures on Thursday point to another wave of selling: CNBC
Trump says Fed ‘Has Gone Crazy’ after sharp down day in stocks: BBG
US Treasury Sec: stock market slide is ‘normal correction’: CNN
US producer prices rebounded in September: Reuters
Wholesale inventories in US increased a strong 1% in August: MarketWatch
Business inflation expectations for Sep tick up to 2.3%, a 6-mo high: Atlanta Fed
Recession risk may be rising for California’s economy: NY Times
US stock market fell 3.3% on Wed, biggest daily drop since Feb: CNBC