COVID-19 sudden hearing loss: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/covid-may-cause-sudden-permanent-hearing-loss-uk-study .
WSJ: Vaccine testing update: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-whats-coming-and-when-11598882964 .
WSJ: Update on J&J vaccine trial pause: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-hopes-covid-19-vaccine-trial-will-restart-shortly-11602610633 . Facts would be helpful. This article is short on them. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-vaccine-pause-shows-challenges-still-ahead-for-covid-19-shots-11602586518 .
WSJ: Lilly COVID-19 antibody drug trial pause: https://www.wsj.com/articles/study-of-eli-lilly-covid-19-drug-paused-due-to-safety-concern-11602617384 . This drug is similar to the antibody drug administered to Trump, which he is touting as a “cure”. Once again, there is little information on the nature of the safety concern here.
These trial pauses are standard procedure. They are only becoming public because of the enormous scrutiny associated with these trials during the pandemic. Unfortunately, as they seem unique to the lay person, they become yet another source of vaccine skepticism.
The ethics and mechanics of a COVID-19 human challenge vaccine trial: https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/a-challenge-trial-for-covid-19-would-not-be-the-first-of-its-kind-68030 .
WSJ: Facebook bans ads discouraging vaccination: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-to-ban-ads-discouraging-vaccines-11602612841 .
WSJ: Trump tests negative for live virus – sort of: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-tests-negative-for-covid-19-on-consecutive-days-white-house-physician-says-11602539511 .
Caregiver angst during pandemic: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-politics-lifestyle-pandemics-ap-top-news-f7b5cd6c4366902e458f5599986344e1 .
WSJ: Trump’s drug discount cards to reach seniors after November 3: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-drug-discount-cards-expected-to-reach-medicare-recipients-after-election-11602626638 .
WSJ: COVID-19 hitting European classrooms: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-is-creeping-into-europes-schools-11602581400 .
WSJ: HBCU receive $15 million COVID-19 testing grant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gates-foundation-gift-to-support-covid-19-testing-at-historically-black-colleges-11602606917 .
WSJ: Lab staff burnout: https://www.wsj.com/articles/help-wanted-at-covid-19-testing-labs-11602583202 .
Canada: Spin studio follows all COVID precautions, becomes hotspot with 61 cases: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/10/13/world/spinco-canada-covid-19-outbreak-trnd/index.html .
WSJ: Mexico buys 91 million vaccine doses: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mexico-signs-agreements-to-buy-potential-covid-19-vaccines-11602607544 . Mexico also expects to receive 26 million doses through Covax.
Pandemic to cost Americans $16 trillion: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-pandemic-cost-americans-16-trillion/ . For comparison, annual GDP is about $22 trillion.
WSJ: Pandemic promotes solar energy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-pandemic-speeds-shift-to-cleaner-energy-11602561601 . The planet is continuously bathed in its greatest energy source. The only sustainable energy source is solar, either directly or indirectly (wind, algae farms and so on).
WSJ: Global round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-updates-10-13-2020-11602576041 . US COVID-19 hospitalizations hit 6-week high.
WSJ: SSA 2021 COLA is 1.3%: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-consumer-prices-rose-in-september-11602593822 .
WSJ: Supreme Court allows early cut-off of Census count: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-allows-trump-administration-to-end-census-count-early-11602624347 . The action, reversing lower courts, was announced in an unsigned opinion. There was a written dissent by Justice Sottomayor.
WSJ: Corporate social responsibility rankings: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pharmaceutical-biotech-and-banking-companies-lead-the-way-in-social-responsibility-11602623200 . Pharma and biotech achieve high ranks.
WSJ: Teladoc sues over patent infringement: https://www.wsj.com/articles/teladoc-sues-rival-over-hospital-robot-patents-11602608095 .
WSJ: Banks support more relief aid: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jpmorgan-citigroup-signal-that-economy-isnt-out-of-the-woods-11602611732 .
WSJ: McConnell pushes for narrow stimulus bill: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-to-vote-on-new-funding-for-small-business-aid-program-next-week-mcconnell-says-11602601139 . This bill seems to have little chance in the House, and may not make the Senate floor. But does it offer Democrats a filibuster opportunity?
WSJ: Renting in suburbia: https://www.wsj.com/articles/renters-flock-to-suburbia-upending-decadelong-urbanization-trend-11602581401 . Articles in this newsletter have previously suggested the redevelopment of downtown office space into apartments. This article suggests the need to completely rethink downtowns.
WSJ: Entertainment gets a COVID-19 makeover: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tv-production-covid-makeover-hollywood-11602614629 . But will we ever see “Stumptown” again?: https://www.tvinsider.com/949546/stumptown-canceled-no-season-2-abc-covid/ . The show was filmed in Portland for the first episode, but as intended has been in an LA studio ever since.
WSJ: Pandemic as global resilience test: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-pandemic-could-pose-major-resilience-test-for-global-financial-system-imf-says-11602599401 . The question is the security (assets) underlying the debt. Given the current economic challenges, it may be too easy to walk away from unsecured debt.
WSJ: China’s exports surge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-exports-supercharged-by-medical-equipment-and-work-from-home-gear-11602572509 . First control the virus, then reopen the economy (repeat ad nauseum). WSJ: China’s recovery helps global economy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/imf-says-global-downturn-will-be-less-severe-than-estimated-in-june-11602592206 .
WSJ: EU can impose $4 billion in tariffs on US goods: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-subsidies-merit-eu-tariffs-on-4-billion-in-u-s-goods-wto-rules-11602598310 . This has to do with Boeing misbehavior.
WSJ: Boeing’s September: 11 jets delivered, 0 orders: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-delivered-11-aircraft-in-september-but-won-no-new-orders-11602601200 . What a mess …
WSJ: India reacts to COVID-19 with economic reforms: https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-turns-to-economic-overhaul-as-growth-prospects-slide-amid-coronavirus-11602586802 .
WSJ: Madison Avenue storefronts at bargain basement prices: https://www.wsj.com/articles/madison-avenues-prime-retail-properties-sell-for-decade-low-price-11602586801 . Let’s reiterate the article’s key points. The properties sold at an 80% decrease from their value 6 years ago. The bidding involved 20 participants, considered a surprising level of interest. The winner was an existing tenant. The logical conclusion is that there is a very small minority of investors who believe Madison Avenue retail will return in anything like its past form.
WSJ: NYC MTA in dire straits: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-yorks-mta-faces-dire-outlook-without-federal-aid-state-comptroller-warns-11602592206 . Remote work will definitely change NYC. Significant service cuts are in order until at least an effective vaccine is widely distributed. That said, MTA will likely still require financial help.
WSJ: Waiting for G dough: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-event-iphone-12-expected-with-5g-capabilities-11602581403 . Apple’s market capitalization exceeds $2 trillion. Godot never came. Update: WSJ: Apple births a 5G iPhone family: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apples-new-iphones-aim-high-and-wide-11602621985 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-event-iphone-12-expected-with-5g-capabilities-11602581403 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/iphone-12-vs-iphone-11-vs-iphone-xr-vs-iphone-se-comparing-apples-full-lineup-11602626294 . Bottom line: 5G alone may not be a reason to upgrade right now.
WSJ: Waiting for higher bond yields: https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-prepare-for-higher-treasury-yields-as-election-looms-11602581400 . Good luck with that. The Fed is long-term committed to holding interest rates near zero.
WSJ: The MOTHERS Index: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-you-didnt-notice-a-japanese-stock-index-beating-the-nasdaq-this-year-11602574805 . This Japanese high-tech index is news to me, and apparently to US investment professionals as well.
WSJ: “Historic” US early voting: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mail-balloting-is-fueling-historic-early-voting-in-the-2020-election-11602591220 . WSJ: Another state voter registration website crash: https://www.wsj.com/articles/virginias-voter-registration-site-goes-offline-on-last-day-to-register-11602612324 .