Old ideas about foreign trade are being retired

Most academic models of international trade are pretty simplistic. Some of these models are surprisingly effective for making certain types of predictions—for example, economists are very good at predicting how much different countries will trade with each other. But they’re not so good at predicting what kind of things the countries will specialize in, which country will have a trade ...

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Democrats need a message, not a policy platform

Democrats are in terrible shape. Republicans control all three branches of government in Washington, 34 of 50 governorships, and 68 of the 99 state legislatures. As they plot a comeback, Democrats have one obvious asset: the reckless presidency of Donald Trump. That’s not enough to close such a huge gap. And the battles that have started to rage inside the ...

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Stocks rise as traders weigh Harvey

Bloomberg US stocks edged higher, the dollar struggled and gold rose as investors weighed the damage from Tropical Storm Harvey. European stocks started the week on the back foot following Friday’s euro surge, but managed to pare a drop. Gasoline surged to the highest in two years and oil declined as flooding from Harvey inundated refining centers along the Texas ...

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Saudi banks strong before FTSE upgrade decision

DUBAI / Reuters Banks helped nudge stock markets in the Gulf higher on Monday with Saudi Arabian lenders, which may benefit from a potential upgrade of the kingdom by index compiler FTSE at the end of next month, outperforming. Egypt firmed on buying by foreign funds. Late next month FTSE will announce its decision on whether to include Saudi Arabia ...

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Central bankers shun policy clues as trade pervades Jackson Hole

Bloomberg Leaders of the world’s most powerful central banks defended post-crisis reforms at their annual retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, while discussing the causes and consequences of populist waves that have reshuffled the political order in the US and Europe. Monetary policy wasn’t a major focus during the three-day gathering. When it was discussed, the messages from the Federal Reserve ...

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‘Commonwealth Bank’ faces second probe

Bloomberg The recent fallout from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s money-laundering scandal widened, with the banking regulator launching an inquiry into the lender’s culture and governance. The nation’s biggest lender is already facing a court case from the financial crime agency alleging it breached money-laundering and terrorism financing laws more than 50,000 times, an investigation into its disclosure practices by ...

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Chinese banks lead Asia equity as market rates rise

Bloomberg Stocks in Hong Kong and China led gains in Asian equity markets as rising money market rates on the mainland boosted sentiment on lenders. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.1 percent to 160.62 as of 4:19 p.m. in Hong Kong, after posting its biggest weekly gain in five weeks. The Philippines market is closed for a holiday. The ...

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SNB’s quiet days in Zurich give CEO Jordan respite as Franc sinks

Bloomberg Thomas Jordan might have had the quietest August since he became Swiss National Bank president five years ago. Considered the haven of all havens by foreign exchange traders, the franc typically shoots up against other currencies whenever investors get anxious. This year, with no Greek debt crisis and the prospect that euro-area bond purchases might soon be wound down, ...

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RBI may hold bond quotas as India faces impossible trinity

Bloomberg Foreigners looking to buy Asia’s best bonds will probably have to wait. Reserve Bank of India’s Governor Urjit Patel is unlikely to raise the quota on debt after inflows surged and muddied policy choices. He can’t allow runaway currency gains because exports are only just recovering from a slump, so he’s buying up the dollars pouring in. This injects ...

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Amazon cuts Whole Foods prices up to 43% on first day

Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc. spent its first day as the owner of a brick-and-mortar grocery chain cutting prices at Whole Foods Market. At the Whole Foods on 57th Street in Manhattan, organic fuji apples were marked down to $1.99 a pound from $3.49 a pound; organic avocados went to $1.99 each from $2.79; organic rotisserie chicken fell to $9.99 each from ...

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