SATURDAY 3/1/14; China PMI; Russia Controls Crimea

The California drought receives relief but the rain is torrential creating mud slides. Slow steady rains are desired to overcome drought conditions. Bitter cold weather continues across the US as the northeast braces for a one foot (30 cm) snowstorm tomorrow and Monday. March is coming in like a lion so perhaps it will go out like a lamb. The Secret Service, which is leading the government’s inquiry into the TGT security debacle, is investigating a security breach at SHLD. A majority of iPhone users have not updated their software to fix the AAPL security breach problem. The financial information of millions of iPhone users remain exposed to cyber attack. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway provides a +18.2% return for investors in 2013, shy of the broad indexes’ robust year, but very attractive nonetheless.

China PMI is 50.2 on the positive side of 50 showing economic expansion rather than contraction, albeit by a hair.........


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Russia has taken over Crimea and does not pay any attention to the presidents hastily-prepared and terse speech yesterday afternoon which was followed by happy hour partying. The interim Ukraine President Turchynov tells Russia to leave Crimea immediately but the regional leader asks Russia to come in and help. Crimea is the only region of the Ukraine with a Russian-dominant population; about 70% are Russian and 30% Ukrainian. Putin appears in full control of Crimea so if the threat by the US last evening was for Russia to not enter and take over Crimea, well, Russia already has. Now what? Analysts are calling the situation a global chess match between East and West. Ukraine and Crimea are the pawns. Putin will likely keep pushing forward militarily into Ukraine since no one is pushing back. Putin asks the Russian parliament for permission to use military force in Ukraine. The Russian military has already taken over Crimea.

Venezuela violence continues as anti-government protestors block major highways halting transportation of goods. People are desperate due to the lack of food and are looting trucks with driver’s running for their lives. Other truck drivers join the protestors in solidarity. A tanker truck is set on fire. Lines are forming at grocery stores with residents hoping for food deliveries. Almost one-half of the products typically on shelves are now unavailable. The death count from the violence rises to 17 and it appears that President Maduro is losing control.