411PUBLISH: 2016

Saturday, November 12, 2016

How to prevent kids from eating ‘Pot Tarts’ and ‘KeefKats’

If you were groggily fumbling to make your child's breakfast in the morning, are you sure you wouldn't mistake a Pot Tart for a Pop Tart? Such child-friendly marijuana edibles were the subject a much-discussed editorial by Stanford Professors Robert MacCoun and Michelle Mello in yesterday's New England Journal of Medicine. Taking note of cases in which children have required emergency room care after ingesting these newly legal products, MacCoun and Mello call for stronger regulations, including clearer labeling, standardized serving sizes, child-resistant packaging and a cap on the potency of the marijuana in edibles.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

After the election, marijuana could be legal for recreational or medical use in 29 states

Marijuana could be legal for medical or recreational use in 29 U.S. states after the November election.

The issue will be put to voters in nine states, with legalization backers enjoying well-funded campaigns and polls showing a high likelihood that they will prevail in the most populous states.

Seniors Brace For Smallest Social Security Increase on Record

Let's start with the good news. For the more than 60 million people who receive Social Security benefits, they will get a cost-of-living increase in 2017. This is positive considering there was no increase in 2016. Here is the bad news. The increase is expected to be around 0.3 percent, the smallest increase on record.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Inflation: next year's ticking time bomb

The last time sterling fell off a cliff we were in the midst of global financial crisis from 2007 to 2008. The currency shock sent inflation shooting up to 5.2pc, abruptly squeezing on real living standards.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Obamacare in Arizona: 2 remaining insurers hike rates by 50-75 percent

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona will sell marketplace plans in all counties but Maricopa, hiking rates 51 percent. Centene Corp. will sell "Ambetter" plans in Maricopa, with 74.5 percent rate hike.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Social Security: 5 common mistakes to avoid

Decisions about Social Security give people fits, which isn't surprising.

It's a complex program. People must make long-term decisions without knowing how the future will unfold. Plus, the Social Security Administration doesn't always explain the rules clearly and consistently.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Mexico Dumps US Treasuries as Trump Marches Closer to Presidency

Mr. Trump has made building a wall along the Mexican border and having Mexico pay for it a major theme of his campaign for the Presidency. Donald Trump recently visited Mexico and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. According to reports, Messrs. Trump and Nieto did not discuss the proposed wall that would separate the United States and Mexico. Yesterday, however, A Mexican lawmaker indicated that any attempt to make Mexico pay for the wall should be met with a bill that would expropriate U.S. assets held in the country.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

JP Morgan and Silver

Estimated value of physical silver and silver mining shares owned and/or controlled by JPMorgan is between approximately $9-$11 billion.

Friday, August 26, 2016

JIM ROGERS: The US dollar might turn into a bubble

The US dollar coud hit bubble levels as investors seek safe havens, according to legendary investor Jim Rogers.

"The dollar is going to get overpriced," Rogers said in an interview with Real Vision TV released Friday, "and the dollar might even turn into a bubble, depending on how bad the turmoil is."

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

HSBC and Bank of America Merrill Lynch use Hyperledger Project for blockchain trade finance

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HSBC and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) are using a blockchain prototype to streamline the paper-heavy world of global trade. The consortium used the Linux Foundation open source Hyperledger Project blockchain fabric, supported by IBM Research and IBM Global Business Services.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Why businesses oppose marijuana legalization in Arizona

To get a job at Woodworkers Source, potential employees must pass a drug test.

There's a good reason for that, said Keith Stephens, owner of the Scottsdale-based lumber-supply business: "Many, many businesses, including mine, have a certain element of risk. In my case it's driving a forklift loaded with heavy material and being in the shop with chop saws," said Stephens, 72, of Paradise Valley.

What to know about Arizona court ruling on marijuana odor, searches

With a pair of opinions published Monday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that police can still use the odor of marijuana as probable cause to search a car or a premises, despite medical-marijuana laws.

In both cases, one from Tucson and the other from Maricopa County, defendants tried to claim that since the passage of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA) in 2010, law-enforcement officers could no longer assume that a crime was committed based on the mere odor of marijuana.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Canna-bees 'trained to produce honey from marijuana' - but will the sweet stuff give humans a buzz?

A beekeeper has trained a hive of "canna-bees" to produce honey from weed, it has been claimed.

A Frenchman using the pseudonym Nicolas Trainerbees has become a viral sensation after posting a video which allegedly shows his bees feasting on marijuana flowers.

Monday, July 25, 2016

That Feeling When You Get $40 Million For Sexually Harassing A Woman

Yes, the news that Roger Ailes was stepping down from his post at the top of Fox News just two weeks after being sued for sexual harassment is a sign that the business world will no longer tolerate "loutish" behavior by top male executives.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Germany Sells Bonds With Negative Yield at Auction

When it comes to bond yields in Europe, it seems there is no such thing as too low.

Germany on Wednesday became the first country in the eurozone to sell 10-year debt with a negative yield at an auction, effectively ensuring that investors lose money over the life of the bond.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

These companies pay out more than they earn

Dividends are all the rage with investors. But some companies are so eager to hand them out, they're paying dividends that are even bigger than their profit.

There are 42 companies in the Standard & Poor's 500, including computer storage company Seagate Technology (STX), earth moving equipment maker Caterpillar (CAT) and energy pipeline company Kinder Morgan (KMI) that are digging really deep to keep investors happy with their dividends, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data from S&P Global Capital Markets. These companies have paid dividends the past 12 months that exceed their reported net income.

This Chinese Propaganda Rap Is the Most Painful Song Ever Recorded

"The red dragon ain't no evil," raps Chuckie, referring to his native China, "but a beautiful place." To scenes of cuddly pandas, spewing smokestacks and goose-stepping soldiers holding aloft a Chinese flag, the English-language music video for "This Is China" begins with a mission to "restore the impression you have of my country, China, which have been [sic] exactly fabricated by media for such a long time."

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Insys Stock Jumps As FDA Approves Appetite-Boosting Cannabis Drug

Specialty drugmaker Insys Therapeutics (INSY) popped Tuesday after the FDA approved its cannabis-derived drug for AIDS-related weight loss and nausea induced by chemotherapy.

Monday, July 4, 2016

The new and improved Panama Canal: How will it affect US businesses?

The newly widened Panama Canal could rewrite how fuel extracted in the US traverses the globe.

The canal expansion opened on June 26 with a third lane that accommodates big ships such as liquified natural gas (LNG) ships, 90 percent of which may now travel across the canal, including those that hold as much as 3.9 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of fuel, according to a report from the US Energy Information Administration released June 30.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Bitcoin Price Weekly Analysis –BTC/USD Facing Major Resistance

Bitcoin price is forming a nice bullish pattern, but currently facing as a critical resistance area, which holds the key for BTC/USD in the near term.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

The Latest: Nevada regulators approve fantasy sports program

LAS VEGAS — The Latest on gambling regulations for a new fantasy sports model in Nevada (all times local):

12 p.m.

Nevada gambling regulators have approved a new platform that will allow bets in a fantasy sports model.

Rest more... https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-latest-nevada-regulators-approve-fantasy-sports-program/2016/06/23/1d913516-3976-11e6-af02-1df55f0c77ff_story.html

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Martha Stewart Is Launching a Meal-Kit Service

Food delivery is a crowded market. According to analytics firm CB Insights, there are 20 start-ups offering meals on-demand or meal-kit delivery, and not all will be successful. Even the august New York Times is vying for a slice of the meal-kit space, as is e-commerce giant Amazon. One way to make yourself stand out: partner with domestic diva and onetime convicted felon Martha Stewart.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Microsoft is working on software for the legal marijuana industry

Microsoft's next bet is on the weed business. The company announced today that it will partner with LA-based marijuana startup Kind on a system for tracking the legal growing and sale of weed.

China home prices rise faster in May as smaller cities join rally

HONG KONG: Sizzling home price rises in China's biggest cities showed signs of easing in May but sharp gains appeared to be spreading to smaller cities, making policymakers' job harder as they look to support the faltering economy without inflating bubbles.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

China’s currency renminbi yuan fixing by PBOC jumps most since 2005

China's central bank guided the yuan higher at the sharpest pace since 2005 on Friday in a move analysts attributed to the dollar's weakness against major currencies.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Fund manager Q&A: Mining stocks better play on gold prices

After years of losses, funds focused on gold and gold miners are up sharply this year as investors snapped gold for protection from a turbulent stock market.

Gold-focused funds were among the best-performing mutual funds in the first quarter. The precious metal is up nearly 17 percent this year and 2.4 percent over the past 12 months.

Phoenix prepares for legalization of recreational marijuana

Medical-marijuana facilities may soon have fewer options of where to open in Phoenix, through zoning changes the city is considering in advance of a possible statewide vote to make recreational use of the drug legal.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Ethereum, a Virtual Currency, Enables Transactions That Rival Bitcoin’s

Beyond the price spike, Ethereum is also attracting attention from giants in finance and technology, like JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft and IBM, which have described it as a sort of Bitcoin 2.0. The rise of the relatively new virtual currency has been …

Legal marijuana sales forecast to hit $23B in 4 years

DENVER — Marijuana is rapidly becoming a big, semi-legal business across the country, with $5.7 billion in sales last year and tens of thousands of people working and paying taxes as they cultivate, package and sell cannabis.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Vampire attack: Debt-laden companies imperil China's growth

China isn't just contending with falling stocks, a plunging currency and a slowing economy.

It's got vampire trouble, too.

The Chinese economy is pock-marked with companies that can't pay their bills and survive only with government help. Jiangshi, the Chinese call them — "vampire companies." Or zombies.

Read more... http://finance.yahoo.com/news/vampire-attack-debt-laden-companies-151812817.html
Vampire attack: Debt-laden companies imperil China's growth

Thursday, February 25, 2016

IMF report urges G20 to prepare global economic stimulus plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Group of 20 nations must plan now for a coordinated stimulus program to keep a slowing global economy from stalling, International Monetary Fund staff said in a report on Wednesday.

The report was prepared for senior G20 officials who are meeting in Shanghai later this week amid falling equity markets, volatile currencies and signs of economic weakness throughout the world.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Indian tribes free to grow pot on their lands – as long as they follow federal laws

American Indian tribes can grow and sell marijuana on their lands as long as they follow the same federal conditions laid out for states that have legalized the drug, the US Justice Department has said.

Oregon US attorney Amanda Marshall said on Thursday the announcement addresses questions raised by tribes about how legalization of pot in states like Oregon, Washington and Colorado would apply to Indian lands.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Bitcoin: A 21st Century Currency Explained By a Wall Street Veteran

It has been described as a "techno tour de force" by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and as a "remarkable cryptographic achievement…that has enormous value" by Google CEO, Eric Schmidt. It was even predicted by Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman in 1999 when he said, "The one thing that's missing, but will soon be developed, is a reliable e-cash."

Friday, January 29, 2016

Russia's iconic AK-47 to be made in USA

The weapon of choice for guerrillas, terrorists and the soldiers of armies around the world, some 100 million AK-47s have been made in Russia since it rolled off the line in 1947. But now, the company's U.S. arm is planning to manufacture the gun at a plant in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Hurry up and renew your passport!

Travelers: Don't wait! Renew your passports now.

Nearly 49 million passports are set to expire within the next three years, and government officials are warning there will be an flood of renewal requests through 2018.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Is Bitcoin Dead? Not the Part that Matters

Like many in the digital currency community, I'm tired of the "bitcoin is dead" line that has permeated mainstream coverage of high-profile software developer Mike Hearn's decision to quit the "failed" bitcoin experiment.

Yet if we contemplate this misguided storyline, there's much to learn from it. It's up to those of us who believe this technology truly matters and that, in some shape or form, it will change the world, to shift the narrative.

Davos 2016: Tackling oil challenge and inequality trap

In a world of social media and technology, networking has become commonplace. Once a year, the world's biggest and most powerful networking event, the World Economic Forum's annual meeting, takes place in Switzerland.

Last week, world leaders met in Davos to discuss the biggest challenges facing the global economy in 2016: Crushing markets and currencies, the falling price of oil, global inequality, migration, the rise of technology, and the threat of another recession.

Warm Regards,

Lillian Wong
Sr. Loan Officer
NMLS 630337
Prospect Mortgage
14635 N. Kierland Blvd. Ste. 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Cell 480 650 5412
Fax 877 220 7982
www.lillianwong.net

Join in going green. Please do not print this email unless it is absolutely necessary.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

China Focus: China copes with worst cold in decades

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has geared up to cope with the winter's coldest weekend as the worst cold front in decades sweeps across the country.

The national observatory raised the weather warning level from yellow to orange on Saturday morning.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

State by state data show bigger 2016 exchange premium, deductible jumps

Consumers buying health insurance through federal and state exchanges will see their monthly premiums for the popular silver-level plans jump by an average of more than 11%, while also likely facing higher deductibles, a new analysis of exchange data by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows.

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