BNP: Impact of US Downgrade

A one-notch downgrade would not cause forced selling of USTs. Still, there could be a re-pricing, with UST rates rising by 25bp or more in long maturities

Office Market Frankfurt - Q2 2011

Office Market Frankfurt - Q2 2011

With an office space turnover of 230,200 sq m, the first half of 2011 was just under the result of the previous year (-0.4%). In contrast to the previous year when the proportion of owner-occupied transactions was at a high level, the first half result of the current year was characterised by a relatively low proportion of 10%.

Author(s): several
Source: CB Richard Ellis
Published: 27.07.2011

http://www.immopro24.com/market-report/office-market-frankfurt-q2-2011_1020.html

Japan: V-shaped recovery is now more than complete for Japanese consumers (T. Okubo)

V-shaped recovery is now more than complete for Japanese consumers

Retail sales in Japan jumped by 2.9% month on month (mom) in June, sizably stronger than the prior market expectation (E 1.5%).

CNBC: What Happens if the U.S. is downgraded?

What Happens if the U.S. is downgraded?
John Carney, CNBC, 2011-07-27

Implications of a US Downgrade

Just a few days more of this debt ceiling (R. Narvas)

Just a few days more of this debt ceiling

The clock continues to tick towards the Treasury's August 2 deadline and we continue to see little progress towards an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. The parties continue to be firmly dug into partisan lines, although the Republicans are looking more fractured. If no deal is done, there is the option of adopting the Reid-McConnell plan proposed last week, but also the atomic bomb of the President invoking the 14th amendment. In the case of a downgrade or default, it seems that the majority of Treasury holders may not be forced sellers. That said, repo markets are already dislocated due to the debt crisis, as players build up cash reserves, preparing for the worst.

WSJ: What's Wrong With America's Job Engine?

ECONOMY JULY 27, 2011
What's Wrong With America's Job Engine?
Wary Companies Rely on Temps, Part-Timers, Hire Overseas
By DAVID WESSEL

Over the past 10 years:

• The U.S. economy's output of goods and services has expanded 19%.
• Nonfinancial corporate profits have risen 85%.
• The labor force has grown by 10.1 million.
• But the number of private-sector jobs has fallen by nearly two million.
• And the percentage of American adults at work has dropped to 58.2%, a low not seen since 1983.

WSJ: Obama Warns of Default Risk

POLITICS JULY 26, 2011
Obama Warns of Default Risk
President and Boehner Spar Over Competing Debt Plans as Deadline Approaches

With Congress deadlocked a week before the government runs out of cash to pay its bills, President Barack Obama warned Monday in his starkest terms yet that the U.S. is on the brink of a default that could trigger an economic upheaval.

NYT: U.S. Housing Prices Remain Weak

U.S. Housing Prices Remain Weak
By CHRISTINE HAUSER
Published: July 26, 2011

Home prices in the United States rose slightly for the second consecutive month in May, but the real estate market still has a long way to go before a recovery, analysts said on Tuesday.

CNNMoney: Home prices dip 4.5%

Home prices dip 4.5%
By Les Christie July 26, 2011: 11:39 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- May home prices in 20 major cities dipped 4.5% from one year ago, marking a continued decline in the already battered housing market.

Bloomberg: U.S. June New-Home Sales Fall More Than Estimated to 312,000 Annual Pace

Related News: Bloomberg, US, Real Estate, Economy
U.S. June New-Home Sales Fall More Than Estimated to 312,000 Annual Pace

Sales of new U.S. homes unexpectedly fell for a second month and a gauge of property values also dropped, showing the industry that sparked the recession is stagnating.