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Germany’s Complex Export Religion In One Chart

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Germany’s Complex Export Religion In One Chart

Today we got another morsel from the German export smorgasbord, along with a beautiful long-term chart from the German statistical agency that says it all.

Why Bitcoin Is Such Dizzying Fun

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Why Bitcoin Is Such Dizzying Fun

Even as the world was still desperately trying to figure out what exactly Bitcoin is, it was inducted into the Wall Street hype factory today by an analyst who touted it as the best thing since sliced bread – just when all heck was re-breaking out.

What the Hell Just Happened in Córdoba?

by Contributor •  • Comments Off on What the Hell Just Happened in Córdoba?

In the last 24 hours, the province of Córdoba spiraled out of control, the very fabric of society torn apart. A sudden absence of law and order sent people into a looting frenzy. Residents and store owners boarded up windows, grabbed shotguns, and climbed to their roofs, waiting for the encounter with the enemy.

How Crazy Is The Auto Financing Frenzy?

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on How Crazy Is The Auto Financing Frenzy?

A “positive spiral effect?” Lenders are closing their eyes, sales are soaring, risks are piling up, auto loan balances jumped 15% in 12 months to an all-time high, and repossessions in the subprime segment more than doubled.

Currency Controls: Argentina Cracks Down on Foreign Travel

by Bianca Fernet •  • Comments Off on Currency Controls: Argentina Cracks Down on Foreign Travel

By Bianca Fernet, Argentina, The Bubble: In 2012, Argentina introduced a 15% tax on credit card purchases made in foreign currency. Which turned into 20%. And now, after promising not to raise it again, the government raised it to 35% and closed the last legal window to acquire dollars at the official rate.

Growing Expectations Of TBTF Bank Creditor Bailouts Tighten Their Tentacles Around Taxpayers

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Growing Expectations Of TBTF Bank Creditor Bailouts Tighten Their Tentacles Around Taxpayers

One of the few rebellious Fed heads, Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker, fired a salvo when testifying before the House Judiciary Committee. He hit Wall Street risks covered by implicit government guarantees in the size of America’s GDP.

Rising Slag Heaps of Petcoke Stir Up Environmental Concerns

by Oilprice.com •  • Comments Off on Rising Slag Heaps of Petcoke Stir Up Environmental Concerns

By John  Daly, Oilprice.com. A product of the Keystone XL pipeline delay is that crude from the Alberta oil sands is refined in the Midwest, generating slag heaps of petroleum coke, or “petcoke,” whose airborne particles has local residents up in arms.

Strung-out Consumers, Desperate Retailers, Crummy Sales

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Strung-out Consumers, Desperate Retailers, Crummy Sales

Tally: 7 deaths, 90 injuries from shootings, stabbings, tramplings, fights, pepper sprayings…. “Only in America people trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have,” a tweet explained. It’s been tough for retailers too.

Unemployment Crisis Hits Economic Wunderkind Austria

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Unemployment Crisis Hits Economic Wunderkind Austria

In Eurostat’s “harmonized” unemployment rates for EU Member States, Austria is the glory land for job seekers: 4.8% unemployment, in first place, a universe apart from Spain (26.7%) and Greece (27.3%). But this “harmonized” rate is bologna. Austria is facing a growing crisis.

Freedom Or Subjugation? It’s (Not) Your Choice

by Don Quijones •  • Comments Off on Freedom Or Subjugation? It’s (Not) Your Choice

By Don Quijones: While many Spaniards may spit bile and venom at the merest suggestion of Catalonian autonomy, they would do well to ask themselves what happened to their own national sovereignty. How is it, for example, that Spain is taking orders on virtually all economic matters from men in black dispatched from Brussels and Frankfurt?