Random Reads - week ending Nov 25

Warren Buffett says, “I just sit in my office and read all day.” Not everyone can afford to devote themselves to reading to that extent so here's a shortcut - the headlines that caught our eye this past week and compelled us to click and read.

Investors Have Gotten Too Complacent on China Debt | WSJ
Corporate debt ticked down by a measly 1% of GDP in the first quarter of 2017, according to the Bank for International Settlements, after rising by nearly 50 percentage points over the past five years.

The debt time bomb that keeps growing and now equals nearly half of US GDP | CNBC
Corporate debt is at its highest level relative to U.S. GDP since the financial crisis, and while not a concern, a snap higher in rates or an economic slump could make it a bigger worry... Debt of nonfinancial companies has grown $1 trillion in just two years and now totals $8.7 trillion, roughly 45 percent of GDP, according to Informa Financial Intelligence.

Good times may be over for overseas shopping agents as China cuts import tariffs | SCMP
As China unleashed a new round of import tariff cuts on 187 goods to encourage consumer spending, analysts say the once flourishing overseas shopping agents, or daigou, could start to feel the pinch.

Overseas M&A Slumps After Record 2016 | Caixin
China’s overseas mergers and acquisitions slumped in the first nine months of 2017 amid tighter government regulation, increased scrutiny of cross-border corporate activity by other countries, and a more uncertain global environment, a new report by professional services firm PwC shows.

I went to a mall on Black Friday -- and it confirmed the holiday isn't the shopping bonanza it once was | Business Insider
Black Friday sales are surging, but you wouldn’t know it by visiting Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal Mall.

AUSTRALIAN HOME SIZES SHRINK TO 20-YEAR LOW | CommSec
Analysing data specially commissioned from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the report found the average floor size of an Aussie dwelling (combining houses and apartments) is around 190 square metres, down 2.7% over the past 12 months and the smallest since 1997.

A small company with a wide moat | livewire
Johns Lyng Group (ASX:JLG) is an integrated building services company, providing building and restoration services as well as commercial building services throughout Australia. The majority of group earnings are generated through the Insurance Building and Restoration division.

Primary Opinion raises $43m to go full foodie; shares jump 31pc | Stockhead
Tech play turned foodie Primary Opinion has raised $43 million and will change its name to LongTable as it doubles down on food acquisitions. Primary Opinion (ASX:POP), which already owns 48 per cent stake of Maggie Beer , will issue 1.43 billion shares at 3c each to buy oddly-named organic and biodynamic dairy operation, B.-d Farm Paris Creek.

Get ready for the sell-side brain drain | AFR
Thanks to the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom brokers research will be treated as a cost to the manager rather than paid for out of client funds... This is meant to be a big win for the client and the fund manager who will start to cherry pick the best analysts out there...  That trend, in turn, however, will make it more difficult for investment banks to attract the best researchers. If fund managers won't pay for the research who will?

Australians are split on whether 2018 will be ‘better’ than 2017 | Roy Morgan
A special Roy Morgan SMS Survey taken in mid-November shows only 31% of Australians think 2018 will be ‘better’ than 2017, while 39% say 2018 will be ‘the same’ and 30% say 2018 will be ‘worse’. Of concern is that 31% is the lowest figure ever recorded for Australians expecting next year to be ‘better’

Wall Street’s 2017 Market Predictions: Pathetically Wrong | WSJ
Forecasting is difficult, but this year showed exactly how pointless it can be: Markets performed opposite of virtually all predictions

Popular posts from this blog

Feel the Cash Burn as Profit Season Closes (or "In memory of Pocketmail")

We reckon equity is a key incentive

New commentary up on livewire: An overlooked small cap agri stock

Disclaimer

Nothing in this blog constitutes investment advice - or advice in any other field. Neither the information, commentary or any opinion contained in this blog constitutes a solicitation or offer by Equitable Investors Pty Ltd (Equitable Investors) or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. Nor shall any such security be offered or sold to any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, purchase, or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

The content of this blog should not be relied upon in making investment decisions.Any decisions based on information contained on this blog are the sole responsibility of the visitor. In exchange for using this blog, the visitor agree to indemnify Equitable Investors and hold Equitable Investors, its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, licensors and suppliers harmless against any and all claims, losses, liability, costs and expenses (including but not limited to legal fees) arising from your use of this blog, from your violation of these Terms or from any decisions that the visitor makes based on such information.

This blog is for information purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice. The information on this blog does not constitute a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Although this material is based upon information that Equitable Investors considers reliable and endeavours to keep current, Equitable Investors does not assure that this material is accurate, current or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any opinions expressed on this blog may change as subsequent conditions vary.

Equitable Investors does not warrant, either expressly or implied, the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained on this blog and does not warrant that the functions contained in this blog will be uninterrupted or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that the blog will be free of viruses or other harmful components.Equitable Investors expressly disclaims all liability for errors and omissions in the materials on this blog and for the use or interpretation by others of information contained on the blog.