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A warning to Evergrande that a bailout won’t be a given

  
  Analysis

Global Times’ editor-in-chief, Hu Xijin, delivers a warning

The Global Times is a sounding board for Chinese authorities and one of the key figures in delivering key messages is via its editor-in-chief, Hu Xijin, who said on his WeChat account that Evergrande should turn to the market for any salvation, not the government.
Adding that Evergrande’s potential downfall is unlikely to trigger a systemic risk akin to that of Lehman Brothers i.e. downplaying the assumption that the company was “too big to fail” and that the government will eventually bail them out.
While not necessarily a confirmation of what to expect, it does fit with the current line of thinking surrounding China at the moment. My thoughts from yesterday:

Evergrande is the name that stands out as the poster boy for all of those worries, as the company is being made an example of the broader crackdown that China is trying to push forward with across most, if not all, major industries right now.

Don’t get me wrong. China has the tools at its disposal to easily bail out Evergrande and prop up the economy. It just isn’t choosing to do so at this moment for one reason or another, be it debt worries or just plain power consolidation

North Korea expanding facility used to produce weapons-grade uranium

  
Analysis, Politics

CNN with a report on new satellite images revealing North Korea is expanding a key facility capable of enriching uranium for nuclear weapons

  • “likely indicate the country plans to significantly ramp-up production at this once-dormant site in the near future, according to experts who analyzed the photos.”
  • Could allow North Korea to increase production of weapons-grade nuclear material by as much as 25%
  • the ongoing construction is consistent with previous efforts to add floorspace at the facility, allowing it to house more centrifuges and thus, enrich more uranium
—
Earlier in the week NK fired off test missiles:
CNN with a report on new satellite images revealing North Korea is expanding a key facility capable of enriching uranium for nuclear weapons

World Bank leaders found to be favouring China … “Doing Business”

  
  Analysis
#  #  #  #  #

An internal committee of the World Bank managed to launch an independent investigation into top brass …

The World Bank ethics committee commissioned a law firm to sniff out what was going on.
Their report found that World Bank leaders, including then-Chief Executive Kristalina Georgieva, applied “undue pressure” on staff to boost China’s ranking in the bank’s “Doing Business 2018” report:
  • Georgieva, and a key adviser, Simeon Djankov, had pressured staff to “make specific changes to China’s data points” and boost its ranking at a time when the bank was seeking China’s support for a big capital increase.
  • The report raises concerns about China’s influence at the World Bank, and the judgment of Georgieva – now managing director of the International Monetary Fund – and then-World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
  • Georgieva said she disagreed “fundamentally with the findings and interpretations” of the report and had briefed the IMF’s executive board.

Kristalina Georgieva now heads the IMF.  Oh dear.

An internal committee of the World Bank managed to launch an independent investigation into top brass ... 

Even Russia’s central bank head says inflation is transitory (hopes 7% will be the top!)

  
  Analysis

ArticleBody Governor of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (better known as the Bank of Russia) Elvira Nabiullina remarks:

 

  • says annual inflation could hit around 7% in September, we hope this will be its peak
  • inflation could significantly deviate from our 4% target for a prolonged period
  • says we “act carefully” when making key rate decision in times of uncertainty
  • says inflation to return to 4% target in second half of 2022

 

Speaking in an interview.

Headlines via Reuters
ArticleBody Governor of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (better known as the Bank of Russia) Elvira Nabiullina remarks:

Just under 30% of gulf crude remains offline after hurricanes Ida and Nicholas

  
Analysis, Crude

An update via Platts on Gulf of Mexico producers, they peg 28% of production yet to return and note that there are still 2 months left of the hurricane season.

  • 95% of US Gulf oil and gas production was shut in near the end of August as Category 4 Ida made a Louisiana landfall
  • The return of natural gas supplies continued to lag a bit more than oil
  • Category 1 Nicholas, which hit the Texas Gulf Coast Sept. 13, had a much more modest impact on the Western Gulf and on slowing restoration activities.
Ida in late August:
An update via Platts on Gulf of Mexico producers, they peg 28% of production yet to return and note that there are still 2 months left of the hurricane season. 
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