MERRILL LYNCH

Fed Speakers, Housing Data, Manufacturing PMI: Economic Events For Sept. 17-21

US Housing Starts
The continued weakness of the global economy will probably leave the two regional manufacturing PMI (Empire State and Philly Fed) and the national Markit PMI at low levels in September. Meanwhile, economists expect August?s data on housing starts and existing home sales to show that the housing recovery remains intact.

US Will Cut Its AIG Stake To 23% From 53%, By One Estimate

American International Group Inc CEO Robert Benmosche
Because of the U.S. Treasury Department's announcement Sunday that it has launched an offering of $18 billion worth of its American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) common stock, the government will soon go from being the company's majority shareholder to being one of its minority shareholders.
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US GDP

US 2Q GDP Revised Up To 1.7%, Stock Futures Point To Slight Gains

The U.S. economy expanded slightly faster than initially thought in the second quarter, but the pace of growth is still too slow to create enough jobs and drive down the unemployment. Economists are forecasting even slower growth in the second half of 2012, which will probably keep expectations of additional monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve intact.
Gold Prices Ease On Caution Ahead Of Fed Statement

Gold Price Forecasts Are Getting Trimmed

Gold experts have further cut back price forecasts for the metal this year after a sluggish first half, a quarterly Reuters poll showed on Monday, while gains in the dollar and a dearth of physical demand are likely to clip any attempted return to last September's record high for the rest of the year.
China

China's Economic Growth Slowest in 3 Years

China's growth rate slowed for a sixth successive quarter to its slackest pace in more than three years, highlighting the need for more policy vigilance from Beijing even as signs emerge that action taken so far is beginning to stabilise the economy.
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The Rebirth Of General Growth Properties

General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP), the second-largest public U.S. mall landlord, is living up to its name once again. After exiting bankruptcy in 2010, the Chicago-based company's shares hit a new all-time high of $18.49 on Friday.
US Federal Reserve

Get Ready For The Fed?s Summer Sequel - Operation Twist 2

The prolonged crisis in the euro zone, coupled with signs that the U.S. economic recovery is faltering, have led to speculation that the Federal Reserve will provide more monetary stimulus, most likely through extending its Operation Twist program, at the June two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which concludes on Wednesday June 20.
Inflationary Pressures Easing

Retail Sales, Manufacturing And Trifecta Of Inflation Data: Economic Events For June 11-15

This week's data releases could reignite hopes that the Federal Reserve will soon provide more policy stimulus. May's producer price index and consumer price index should show that inflationary pressures are easing, with the latter falling below the Fed's 2 percent target rate. Retail sales and industrial production figures for May are likely to come in on the soft side, as well.
Like a diver vaulting off a high cliff into the water, the US economy will be vaulted off a financial cliff on Jan. 1, 2013 -- unless Congress acts.

Fiscal Cliff: If You Aren't Worried, Here's Why You Should Be

While the euro zone fiscal crisis has grabbed the spotlight, the U.S. faces its own fiscal crisis. The simultaneous onset of tax increases and spending cuts scheduled for Jan. 1 -- which will trigger unless Republicans and Democrats can agree on a balanced budget solution -- will likely send the economy plunging off a $720 billion fiscal cliff and into the arms of another recession.
US Job Market

US Job Growth Falters In May - Is QE3 By Fed Up Ahead?

A third straight month of disappointing job data clearly suggests that the U.S. labor market conditions are deteriorating again, which economists say will undoubtedly prompt more speculation that a third round of quantitative easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve is coming soon.
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Existing Home Sales, Durable Goods, China PMI: Economic Events For May 21 - 25

This week's economic calendar is relatively light in the U.S. with the releases of existing home sales, durable goods orders, and the University of Michigan consumer confidence survey. Attention will likely focus on data out of Europe. Euro zone PMIs, Germany IFO survey, and first-quarter gross domestic product data for the U.K. will be released.

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