SUNDAY 3/8/15; China Trade Data; Daylight Savings Time Begins in the US

Chinese leaders and policymakers are working hard to manage the economic growth slowdown. China announced last week a target growth rate of +7% the slowest increase in two decades. Bad loans are increasing daily in China with bank bankruptcies likely. The Chinese government can stave off the growing problems but government finances are already becoming stretched to deal with the economic slowdown mainly due to a drop off in the property boom. Adding to the potential tumult ahead, global banking institutions are raising the collateral requirements for Chinese banks as the economy becomes shakier. World bankers clearly expect Chinese banks to default in the weeks and months ahead.

China’s exports rise +48.3% year on year 













[Text is Redacted: Purchase March 2015-03 to Read the Complete Chronology]

Ahead of the new week of trading, the S&P 500 is at 2071. Dow 17857. Nasdaq 4927. Russell 2000 is 1218. DAX 11551. CAC 4964. FTSE 6912.

US dollar index 97.717. Euro 1.0843. Dollar/yen 120.83. Pound 1.5035.

WTIC oil 49.61. Brent oil 59.86. Natural gas 2.839.

Gold 1164. Silver 15.807. Copper 2.609.

US Treasury yields are; 2-year 0.73%, 5-year 1.70%, 10-year 2.25%, 30-year 2.85%.  The higher dollar moves in sync with higher yields. German bund 0.394%. Japan 10-year yield 0.395%.