The Traderszone Network

San Francisco Fed chief John Williams seems on the fence about a September rate increase, reflecting the broader debate within the Federal Reserve.
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China’s imports tumbled in August, adding to concerns about the health of the world’s second-largest economy and its contribution to global growth. Much of China’s imports are commodities and other raw materials going into factories that turn them into goods for sale overseas, so the fall could be an ominous sign for exports in the coming months. Exports fell less than forecast, sliding 5.5 percent, but analysts were still doubtful that China can now achieve its year-end trade growth target of 6 percent.

Greek banks’ bad loans, which peaked after capital controls were imposed in late June, have dipped to around 45 percent of their loan books and are likely to fall further, daily newspaper Kathimerini said on Tuesday, citing bankers’ estimates. The figure for bad loans – defined as credit more than 90 days in arrears or likely to fall into that category – was 40.8 percent at the end of the first quarter, according to latest official figures.

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The seller of brewing machines and single-serve coffee pods said nothing about a little-known exemption in the U.S. tax code that for many years has benefited Starbucks Corp and other U.S. companies who trade in some commodities. In internal presentations, Keurig said the move was aimed at expanding into the European market and gaining access to Switzerland’s talent pool of coffee traders, one source familiar with the transition told Reuters.

The British day trader accused of contributing to the 2010 flash crash enlisted a computer programmer to help him work out a system to manipulate stock prices, e-mailing pleas for help perfecting his “spoofing” efforts, U.S. prosecutors said in an indictment.

Kevin Brady, once head of equity trading for South African-born bank Investec Ltd., wants to compete with Africa’s biggest and oldest financial market, JSE Ltd. To do that he plans to undercut the monopoly’s fees.

Europe’s biggest stock exchange, which built its market share in an era of speedy, sliced-up equity trading, is targeting blocks for the first time.