This Week's Chart, Next Week's Markets
Newspapers collapse, Japan votes, U.S. jobs and, yes, J.D. Vance returns to Munich!
We can’t help thinking of the brutal losses at the Washington Post this week, which come after a series of terrible editorial decisions but also reflect the epochal shift in how we all get news.
Meanwhile, before you ask your (unpaid) Perplexity bot for thoughts on next week’s markets, take a look at what this human brain has assembled from a series of paid subscriptions to the work of seasoned journalists.
Sunday: Japanese elections should deliver a resounding win for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Liberal Democratic Party, giving fresh energy to expansionary fiscal policy, higher interest rates, and possibly even a rising yen.
Tuesday: U.S. retail sales numbers for December should confirm a healthy consumer appetite, even if sentiment is in the toilet.
Wednesday: Non-farm payrolls for January, delayed from this week’s government shutdown, should confirm what feels like a lukewarm economy. Forecasts hover near 68,000 new jobs, up from 50,000 in December. Watch for inflation data, too.
Friday: Talk about Must See TV! Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled to return to the Munich Security Conference.