Morning Journal--Stockman takes aim at the employment numbers

Economics

   This Week’s Data

            The International Council of Shopping Centers reported weekly sales of major retailers up 1.5% versus the prior week and up 1.5% on a year over year basis: Redbook Research reported month to date retail chain store sales up 2.9% versus the comparable period a year ago.

            Weekly mortgage applications fell 1.6% but purchase applications rose 3.0%.

   Other

            An interesting graph on the history of wealth distribution (short):

            http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2014/04/the-new-gilded-age/

            Goldman appears to be exiting not only high frequency trading but also its ‘dark pool’ exchange (medium):

            http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-08/triple-whammy-shocker-goldman-shutting-down-sigma-x

            David Stockman takes aim at the employment numbers (medium and a must read):

            http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-08/david-stockmans-born-again-jobs-scam-ugly-truth-behind-jobs-friday

Politics

  Domestic

Retiring SEC lawyer blasts his former agency (medium and today’s must read):

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-08/retiring-sec-lawyer-crucifies-his-employer-its-cancer-collecting-pennies-bankster-tu

  International

            How effective can US sanctions against Russia be? (medium):

            http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-08/russian-sanctions-and-negative-effect-global-energy-security