STEPHEN ROACH: America Can't Keep Relying On Spending To Drive The Economy – Business Insider

STEPHEN ROACH highlights the importance of capital investment in any US recovery:

Over the last 18 quarters, annualized growth in real consumer demand has averaged a mere 0.7%, compared to a 3.6% growth trend in the decade before the crisis erupted…… Consumption typically accounts for 70% of GDP (71% in the second quarter, to be precise). But the 70% is barely growing, and is unlikely to expand strongly at any point in the foreseeable future. That puts an enormous burden on the other 30% of the US economy to generate any sort of recovery.

Capital spending and exports, which together account for about 24% of GDP, hold the key to this shift. At just over 10% of GDP, the share of capital spending is well below the peak of nearly 13% in 2000. But capital spending must exceed that peak if US businesses are to be equipped with state-of-the-art capacity, technology, and private infrastructure that will enable them to recapture market share at home and abroad. Only then could export growth, impressive since mid-2009, sustain further increases. And only then could the US stem the rising tide of import penetration by foreign producers.

via STEPHEN ROACH: America Can't Keep Relying On Spending To Drive The Economy – Business Insider.

China: Why the Recovery Has Begun | PRAGMATIC CAPITALISM

A bullish outlook on China from Citi Research:

The key drivers of growth recovery are that de-stocking is near its end, the hard landing risk of the property sector is contained, and investment, consumption and exports had shown signs of improvement in June. In our view, given more policy supports in the near term, 3Q GDP growth will likely be flattish…….the planned Rmb360bn infrastructure investment will be fully implemented.

via China: Why the Recovery Has Begun | PRAGMATIC CAPITALISM.

Olympic highlights: Le Clos touches out Michael Phelps in Mens 200m butterfly

Chad Le Clos touches out Michael Phelps in Mens 200m butterfly:

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8Qu8DkzVevTKGcT2sE14i-OJ6H5N_krZBNR83f4ErENsWYC8YrM7ZwFw2mcpRuC2uQMv1Ms7QQbAz-cpw6wwUKGONHZGD2lEW_5HD_KVv16QFUSv00D9w6sMbtO9XuvfnszCN_AtDI38frgI_cqPsEkhnJ7tbazpvleTg_56WnPFD8TLBsG2l2_pXE5KBrdHLccGlYeCDS9CelXqDNE-qwFvhGMXVaD_Lhz3Sy4WskyTND_o4uLCWd74orR2WfBwNGHwGaDKUDarsPZwK5w_Dh3EfUgHrSo0cK8GjI7GsHH7a38nl8nDDwt9-W-ukiCORBGy6ROUpvI3CnZJ_jbkQM0PStUgnytihd1f5S93svZH34rIzJ2k36Z6SCiaXgY2pbCe6bfkl7D-CBz6ttymOPuy1Sb7w-xUvmjbvdKoKe-_BHJYyqTxhbndD8HiSM8uS95NN-c_Adtw869Y2BPHhSYQxjNjQpHpiznlsBcHk0x8xkllQFOidhqAKOq5PCDWMz-FH0NGsCc9z24Nv4PXpfCzD0R1Z5mh3UFZtFNVvPyXuck3NqSopNn5QCNX_pAJCfiMUS0t9Rg4yRagPVdZnroHYJymFpYEYaSY8I1LwWXMs94mM2EVcwinJXpyzWhf1XtHI9kKSskwdwMosgjAwU7QWr2bZp2PobdWu7XOJVAh1xn_66Qg-2aTWDuX097X_mtkZEXjg999hXo7X_5o3P0K9GKn2wWybz7fwPd7clYLhGXvRM9aSZy3Hq9BLzUdJQBHIhb4WWED1PBOSs73uM_WdPCVzUeO_NEWdz4FH2PVh-aHw7jgWIbhHw_cJarpo_bm5iX3-fdbA1sxg9zpcGr3J94hjCVivrS_QQ9ZC37GXj3EoUWqBQqb4dU4xQQga2NBL3KoqE-ErKdUQaZgzfcJTivmOED6IUu00T7TN8LQFgOTMcbrXhmIw**%26docUrl%3Dhttp%253A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fmichael-phelps-silver-200-meter-butterfly-2012-7%26loadStartTime%3D1343763392560]

FT Alphaville » Negative rates as a precursor to the death of banking

Izabella Kaminska: The [European research] team at Morgan Stanley concludes:

Banks earnings have already come under significant pressure from the flattening of the yield curve. Unless negative real rates came with a material steepening of the curves (not our rates colleagues’ view), banks earnings would come under even greater pressure. In fact, the greatest risk our rates colleagues see would be for negative rates 2-3 years down the curve, in which case banks would need to re-price credit further. In our view, as banks’ confidence in loan growth and margins fell, so would their confidence on their capital plans and so lending would remain weak. We see Japan’s experience as good case study in this.

via FT Alphaville » Negative rates as a precursor to the death of banking.

Beijing pushes to improve air pollution – FT.com

Not a good sign for thermal coal prices (and miners):

In a multibillion dollar bid to clean up air pollution, Beijing is shutting down its coal-fired plants and replacing them with natural gas-fuelled power stations by the end of next year.

via Beijing pushes to improve air pollution – FT.com.

Olympic highlights: Mens 4x100m freestyle relay

Highlight of the Olympics so far is France’s performance in the Mens 4x100m freestyle relay:

[vodpod id=Video.16517080&w=425&h=350&fv=%26embedCode%3DxsbWlpNTpkvRvtD0HFIqoWYfQO4GN67h%26videoPcode%3DBhdmY6l9g002rBhQ6aEBZiheacDu]

Australia: Housing credit slows

From the Westpac Bulletin:

Housing credit has lost momentum under the weight of past tight monetary policy and with the sector facing a number of headwinds.

Housing credit grew by just 0.30% in the month of June. This is the weakest monthly result on record (back to 1976), with the exception of a one-off fall of -0.38% for June 1984. Annual housing credit growth has now slowed to 5.1%, moderating from 6.0% a year ago.

Europe: DAX and Footsie buying pressure

Germany’s DAX is headed for a test of resistance at the 2012 high of 7200. A trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates strong buying pressure. We should see stubborn resistance at 7200 but also strong support at 6500 if there is a retracement.

DAX Index

The FTSE 100 is testing resistance at 5700 while 21-day Twiggs Money Flow bottoming above zero indicates (medium-term) buying pressure. Breakout would offer a target of 5900*.

FTSE 100 Index

* Target calculation: 5700 + ( 5700 – 5500 ) = 5900

S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 correction

The monthly chart of the S&P 500 shows 63-day Twiggs Momentum has been falling for about two years but is now threatening to form a trough above zero which would signal resumption of the primary up-trend. Breakout above 1420 would confirm, offering a target of the 2007 high at 1550*. Respect of resistance, however, would mean more of the same gloomy outlook — our steady diet over the past few months.

S&P 500 Index Daily Chart

* Target calculation: 1400 + ( 1400 – 1250 ) = 1550

Respect of 2400 on the Nasdaq 100 monthly chart is also a bullish sign. Breakout above 2800 would offer a target of 3200*.

Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2800 + ( 2800 – 2400 ) = 3200

The Olympic Contradiction – NYTimes.com

DAVID BROOKS: Dancers, especially at the opening ceremony, smile in warmth and friendship……..After the opening ceremony is over, the Olympics turn into a celebration of the competitive virtues: tenacity, courage, excellence, supremacy, discipline and conflict.

The world, unfortunately, has too many monomaniacs….One [political] faction champions austerity while another champions growth…….The right course is usually to push hard in both directions……to thrive amid the contradictions.

via The Olympic Contradiction – NYTimes.com.