Money & Markets – Week of 01.12.14

Bank of America CFO: M&A is Ramping Up
The Wall Street Journal | 15 January 2014
Bank of America’s chief financial officer thinks M&A activity is finally revving up…

Obama’s Unemployment ‘New Normal’ Foretells A ‘Lost Decade’
Forbes | 14 January 2014
There was considerable weeping and gnashing of teeth over the December “Employment Situation”…

More People Report Being Worse Off Financially
The Hill | 15 January 2014
More people in the United States say they are worse off financially now compared to a year ago, according to a new poll…

The Return of IPOs: Back With a Boom
The Economist | 09 January 2014
The new-found enthusiasm for public listings will go a long way…

South Dakota, Little Tax Haven on the Prairie
Bloomberg Businessweek | 09 January 2014
Among the nation’s billionaires, one of the most sought-after pieces of real estate is a former S.S. Kresge five-and-dime that’s been converted to offices in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Economist Explains: What is Quantitative Easing?
The Economist | 14 January 2014
America’s Federal Reserve surprised markets in December by starting to “taper” its programme of monthly purchases of government and mortgage bonds…

Income Inequality Most Likely Threat to World Economy, WEF Says
Bloomberg Businessweek | 16 January 2014
The widening divide in incomes between the poor and rich poses the most likely threat to the global economy over the next decade, according to the World Economic Forum…

Fed Student-Loan Focus Shows Recognition of Growth Risk
Bloomberg | 15 January 2014
Tiffany Roberson works for the state of Texas as a parole officer…

Outlook 2014: Stay the Course
KKR | 13 January 2014
We believe that we are now entering the global synchronous phase of a long but bumpy recovery process that started in 2009…

America’s Dwindling Economic Freedom
The Wall Street Journal | 13 January 2014
Regulation, taxes and debt knock the U.S. out of the world’s top 10…

Obamacare Packing Medical Offices Spurs Deal Surge
Bloomberg | 14 January 2014
Obamacare and an aging U.S. population are spurring purchases of medical office buildings, with investors sending prices to a record on bets that Americans’ demand for health services will increase…

Agreement Reached On $1 Trln U.S. Spending Bill-Mikulski
Yahoo! Finance | 13 January 2014
Negotiators in the U.S. Congress have reached agreement on a $1 trillion spending bill for consideration this week in an effort to stave off another government shutdown until at least Sept. 30…

Spain Youth Unemployment Rises To Record 57.7%, Surpasses Greece
Zero Hedge | 08 January 2014
There has been much speculation recently about some immaculately conceived Spanish economic recovery…

AT&T to Let Content Companies Subsidize Users’ Data Costs
The Wall Street Journal | 06 January 2014
New Plan Is Notable Development in Relationship Between Carriers and Web Firms That Use Their Networks…

Artisanal Capitalism: The Art and Craft of Business
The Economist | 04 January 2014
Etsy is starting to show how the maker movement can make money…