Interpreting the Federal Reserve’s Data

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The New York Fed has long collected market information from its primary dealer trading counterparts and released these data in aggregated form to the public. Until recently, such data have only been available for broad categories of securities (for example, Treasury bills as a group) and not for specific securities. Starting with data covering the week ending April 3, 2013, the Fed now also releases aggregated primary dealer data on specific Treasury issues. In particular, the data cover dealer activity in the most recently issued Treasury notes and bonds, including both nominal securities as well as Treasury inflation-protected securities; specific issue data are not collected for bills. As with the broad security category data, the released data are aggregated across dealers and reported weekly as of the week ending Wednesday.  Michael Fleming of the New York Fed suggests what this might mean.  New Ways of Looking at Federal Reserve Data

Federal Reserve

When It Comes To Financial Matters: Do Women Need Special Handling?

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The stories pour out by the bucketful, when it comes to financial planning and investing, “Women have different needs than men.” In an effort to upset as many marketing gurus and brokers as possible, I submit that there are far more similarities than differences and the differences are subtleties, not profound. That being said, the impact of those subtleties can be significant and profound. I have read countless articles pointing to the assertion that women’s needs are so different that truly only another woman can have the ability to meet those needs. While I will not argue the fact that there are differences- I don’t use my wife’s soap or razors- I find that there are far more similarities than differences…
When It Comes To Financial Matters Old Magazine

Sam: You have helped me wonderfully, My Dear.
Now,with your efficient organization, why don’t you help yourselves?

Doaa ElAdl, An Important Cartoonist on the Front Lines in Egypt

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Doaa El Adl worked as a cartoonist for the newspaperAl Dostor, Rose Al Youssef Magazine, and Sabah El Kheir Magazine. She currently works at the prominent newspaperAl Masry Al Youm. She has also worked as an illustrator and has contributed to the magazines Qatr El Nada, Alaa-El Din and Bassem. In 2009 she was the first woman to win the Award of Journalistic Distinction in Caricature.  Here is a recent interview with her in Sampsonia.  A recent interview of Doaa El Adl by Olivia Stransky for Sampsonia

Egypt

India’s Problems

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The calamity of 1991 led to liberalising reforms that ended decades of stagnation and allowed a spurt of fast growth in Inda. This latest brush with disaster could produce a positive legacy, too, but only if it persuades voters and the next government of the importance of a new round of reforms that deal with the economy’s flaws and unleash its mighty potential.  Corruption is rampant.  Global markets are jittery and this is an election year.  India’s Problems

India's Problem

Lawrence Summers’ Policies

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We know that Summers would be more worried about unemployment than inflation today — but how much more worried? More worried than the Fed already is or less so? Here are three questions for Summers that would fill in some of the blanks about what we know he thinks about the Fed and what we need to know.  What should the Fed do when interest rates hit zero?  Is 2 per cent the right inflation target?  Is the Fed a bubble cop?  Lawrence Summers’ Policy

Summers and his Mentee

Impact of US Spying on Germany

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Libertarians and many common citizens in the US have protested against comprehensive spying to the NSA on ordinary citizens.  But the outcry in the US in no way matches the profound disappointment and even disgust of other nations around the world.  The prompts vary from country to country.  This article in Propublica discusses Germany.  Why NSA Snooping Is Bigger Deal in Germany   Sadly, around the world, the US has been diminished by this fundamental invasion of privacy.

US Spying

 

Fiji : Finance Company to Assist Women’s Groups

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THE Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation has established a Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni partnership with Home Finance Company (HFC) which will assist local women groups in setting up businesses.

Minister for Social Welfare Dr Jiko Luveni said the partnership would make it easier for groups to back up financial needs by providing easier access to microfinance loans.

A statement from the ministry stated women’s groups may be given a $2000 loan to start-up and could reapply for another $5000 loan on a two-year term once the first loan was paid off.

She said women’s empowerment needed voices of influence…
Finance company to assist womens groups

A painting of Fijian women

 

China Grapples with Demographic Problems

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Two reports in Chinese media highlight different aspects of China’s unfolding demographic crunch. The Ministry of Education reported Aug. 21 that more than 13,600 primary schools closed nationwide in 2012. The ministry looked to China’s dramatically shifting demographic profile to explain the widespread closures, noting that between 2011 and 2012 the number of elementary-aged students fell from nearly 200 million to 145 million. It also confirmed that between 2002 and 2012, the number of students enrolled in primary schools dropped by nearly 20 percent. The ministry’s report comes one day after an article in People’s Daily, the government newspaper, warned of China’s impending social security crisis as the number of elderly is expected to rise from 194million in 2012 to 300 million by 2025.  China’s Demographic Problem

China Aging