Morning Journal -- A close up of the Japanese economy

Economics
This Week’s Data

Other

The manufacturing sector is out pacing the rest of the economy (short):
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2012/03/manufacturing-profits-set-new-record-in.html

The February leading economic indices in both China and Europe were better than expected.

The US dive toward insolvency is speeding up (medium):
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/budget-346003-debt-percent.html

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index indicates the recovery is on track (short):
http://www.capitalspectator.com/archives/2012/03/chicago_fed_us.html#more

Politics

Domestic

The meaninglessness of contracts (medium):
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/03/on-the-meaningless-of-contracts-and-the-new-optionality.html

International

Obama needs ‘space’ (short):
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/03/kill-this-space-program.php

A look at the Japanese economy (long but today’s must read):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/chinese-business-media-cautions-jgb-bubble-ready-burst-anticipates-40-yen-devaluation

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

Walgreen’s reported fourth quarter earnings per share of $.78 versus expectations of $.77.

Steve Cook received his education in investments from Harvard, where he earned an MBA, New York University, where he did post graduate work in economics and financial analysis and the CFA Institute, where he earned the Chartered Financial Analysts designation in 1973. His 40 years of investment experience includes institutional portfolio management at Scudder, Stevens and Clark and Bear Stearns. Steve's goal at Strategic Stock Investments is to help other investors build wealth and benefit from the investing lessons he learned the hard way.