U.S., China Plunge Further Into a Spiral of Hostility: WSJ
Just a few weeks ago, China and the U.S. were tiptoeing toward a rapprochement. Now, any fence-mending has been postponed. Source link
Russia Turns to China’s Yuan in Effort to Ditch the Dollar: WSJ
Russia’s economy, restricted from Western financial networks and the U.S. dollar, has embraced a burgeoning alternative: the Chinese yuan. Energy exporters are increasingly getting paid in yuan. Russia’s sovereign-wealth fund, a war chest to support government spending burdened by battlefield costs in Ukraine, is using the Chinese currency to store its oil riches. Source link
S.O.S for the U.S. Electric Grid: WSJ
PJM Interconnection sounds the latest alarm that fossil-fuel plants are shutting down without adequate replacement power. The political class yawns. Source link
China Sticks Close to Russia as It Makes Cautious Diplomatic Push
WorldAsiaChinaBeijing has sought to cast itself as an advocate for peace in Ukraine, but shown little willingness to distance itself from Moscow’s positions Source link
Americans in Their 30s Are Piling On Debt
The overall burden is up 27% since before the pandemic, more than for any other age group. Source link
U.S. to Expand Troop Presence in Taiwan for Training Against China Threat
WSJ News ExclusiveAsiaThe Pentagon is helping Taiwan focus on tactics and weapon systems that would make the island harder to assault Source link
Office Landlord Defaults Are Escalating as Lenders Brace for More Distress
Real EstateProperty ReportDelinquency rate for office loans that back commercial-mortgage-backed securities remains low, but it is heading higher Source link
Debt-Ceiling Standoff Prompts Backup Plans, but They Face Hurdles Too: WSJ
Potential alternatives for the U.S. to avoid default—from simply ignoring it, to minting a trillion-dollar coin—are met with skepticism. Source link
California’s Budget Deficit Blows Up
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget last month projected a $22.5 billion deficit, but apparently his forecast was too sunny. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) warned last week that the state’s budget hole may be a lot bigger owing to plunging revenue. Look out below. Source link
More Auto Payments Are Late, Exposing Cracks in Consumer Credit
MarketsFinanceBorrowers with low credit scores fall behind in numbers unseen since 2010 Source link