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North Korea appears to have resumed operation of its plutonium-producing reactor

Producing plutonium will allow the country to expand its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

Wall Street Journal report on findings of the UN Atomic Agency:
  • “Since early July, there have been indications, including the discharge of cooling water, consistent with the operation of the reactor,” said the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
  • and there are indications that North Korea is also using a nearby laboratory to separate plutonium from spent fuel previously removed from the reactor.
The agency described the twin developments as “deeply troubling” and a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
North Korea’s plutonium-producing reactor is at Yongbyon
  • appeared to have been inactive from December 2018 until the beginning of July 2021
Producing plutonium will allow the country to expand its arsenal of nuclear weapons. 

Happy 90th birthday to Warren Buffett

The Oracle of Omaha turns 90 today

Warren Buffett
Warren Buffet celebrates his 90th birthday today as the world’s sixth-richest man. At $82.1 billion, he’s done well for himself.
But what Jason Zweig notes in the WSJ is that the genesis of his genius was in playing the long game and starting as early as possible.
Around the age of 10, he read a book about how to make $1,000 and intuitively grasped the importance of time. In five years, $1,000 earning 10% would be worth more than $1,600; 10 years of 10% growth would turn it into nearly $2,600; in 25 years, it would amount to more than $10,800; in 50 years, it would compound to almost $117,400.
Today’s markets are as get-rich-quick as ever but the long game always wins.

Iran and China are working towards partnerships – would benefit by offsetting US pressures on each

A weekend report from the Wall Street Journal on mooted wide ranging partnership discussion by the two countries:

  • China would benefit from Iranian oil
  • Iran would get Chinese investment
Iran and China partnering up would deflect US pressures and influence on both.
WSJ goes on:
  • An initial draft of the Iran-China deal still requires Iranian parliamentary approval
  • under a 25-year partnership, China would import “sustainable” levels of Iranian oil, but offered no further details
Here is the link for more (may be gated).

iran china

Navarro is now walking back his ‘its over’ comments!

White House Trade Adviser Navarro is now speaking with the Wall Street Journal denying the trade deal with China is over.

!
Earlier:
  • Peter Navarro declares trade deal with China is over
  • Risk trades getting smashed on the Navarro comments that trade deal with China is over
  • More on White House trade adviser Navarro announcing the trade deal with China is over

Now this:

  • Navarro tells the WSJ his comment about China trade being “over” not as seems.
  • Says he was trying to make broader point about “trust.”
  • ‘Its over’ was not about the phase 1 deal, that remains in place
OK, so the lack of comment from Trump was the tell – Navarro was wrong to say what he did. This is an epic f*ck up from Navarro. Says he was making a point about trust … what, not to trust a thing this idiot says?
Still, if you caught some of the moves its all good!

Tokyo Olympic exec floats idea of postponing the Games

A piece in the Wall Street Journal, posting as an ICYMI:

  • Haruyuki Takahashi is a member of the Tokyo Olympic Committee’s executive board, says if the Olympics can’t go ahead (scheduled to commence in July)  the most realistic option would be to delay the event by one or two years
Japan has a lot riding on the success of the Games, huge investment has already been poured into preparation and a cancellation would have a terrible impact on tourism, retail and such.
Other execs have expressed confidence in proceeding as planned:
  • “Not a chance,” Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori said Friday when asked whether the Games could be pushed back
A piece in the Wall Street Journal, posting as an ICYMI:

US to begin testing coronavirus vaccine in late April, results in July or August

For those looking for a shot of hopium, the WSJ have you covered.

  • Drugmaker Moderna has shipped the first batch of its rapidly developed coronavirus vaccine to U.S. government researchers
  • first human tests … by the end of April to start a clinical trial
  • Initial results could become available in July or August
Link here. (Journal may be gated)
“Late” April is what, two months away? Ugh.
Until then…
For those looking for a shot of hopium, the WSJ have you covered.

USTR calls out trade news speculation in latest statement

Specifically points the finger to the Wall St Journal ForexLive “Washington, DC –  Bob Davis and Lingling Wei at the Wall Street Journal, based on anonymous sources, have reported at least three times this week that the United States negotiators offered to cut by as much as one half the tariff rates on approximately $360 billion of Chinese imports in exchange for certain purchases.While we do not comment on the content of negotiations, we have said publicly and on the record that this is totally false, untrue and baseless.It did not happen. In addition and to be completely clear, we have personally, and on the record, told Mr. Davis and another Wall Street Journal reporter repeatedly that this is utterly false. No such offer was ever made to China by the United States. There is not a single knowledgeable American negotiator who would support this falsehood. Further, there is no Chinese negotiator who could honestly be this source.We will not speculate on why the Chinese or an American uninvolved with these negotiations would manipulate the story. This is another example of reporting on an  important alleged event based on secret sources, some of which may have obvious bias. The Wall Street Journal should make very clear that those actually involved for the United States have so clearly indicated that they are untrue, fabricated falsehoods. It should also expose possible biases of the anonymous source.” was the article in question that they are specifically referencing. To be fair to the WSJ, there will also never be any proof to substantiate the claims made by the USTR above.

Ray Dalio debunks WSJ story about his bearish position

Ray Dalio from Bridgewater Associates responsed to WSJ article

It was reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier today that Ray Dalio from Bridgewater Associates had a 1.5 billion bearish option position on the S&P and Eurostoxx 600 index.
Dalio is out with a tweet debunking the story. He tweets:
 Ray Dalio from Bridgewater Associates responsed to WSJ article
Even if he did, or does,  have a 1.5 billion option position (it is not clear), it would dwarf the money under management (and likely long position).

FOMC meet today – rate cut is widely expected but its ‘what’s next?’ of most focus

Via the WSJ a good in summary look at what will be the focus in the
  • Without signs of a sharper deterioration in economic data, officials on Wednesday may seek to tamp down on expectations that they will keep cutting rates-including at their final scheduled meeting of the year in December
  • At the same time, soft economic data of late could make officials uncomfortable delivering an “all clear” signal, particularly because any residual damage from the U.S.-China trade war may not yet be fully reflected. 
The Journal characterize Powell press conference as him walking a tightrope given those two points they make.
Other metaphors include:
  •  “The challenge is threading a needle where the eye has become extremely tiny,” said Ellen Zentner, chief U.S. economist at Morgan Stanley
Link here for more, may be gated.
Earlier previews of the Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee policy meeting are here:

Crypto news – Visa, Mastercard, reconsider involvement in Facebook’s Libra network

The Wall Street Journal report second thoughts from big payment companies on the cryptocurrency.

  • Visa, Mastercard and other key financial partners that signed on to help build and maintain the Libra payments network are reconsidering their involvement following backlash from U.S. and European government officials, according to people familiar with the matter. 
  • Wary of attracting regulatory scrutiny, executives of some of Libra’s backers have declined Facebook’s requests to publicly support the project, the people said.
  • Their reluctance has Facebook scrambling to keep Libra on track. 
WSJ is gated, but here is the link if you can access it
Meanwhile, BTC price chart update:The Wall Street Journal report second thoughts from big payment companies on the cryptocurrency.