1.

About 85 per cent of employees would like to work remotely at least two to three days a week
after the pandemic is over, according to a survey by CBRE, the commercial real estate services
company.

https://www.ft.com/content/eb0a8169-30cd-4764-bde0-9a010abdcd7e
2. A bipartisan group of US senators has proposed a $908bn spending package to break the
deadlock on fiscal stimulus as Jay Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, made a new
appeal for lawmakers to provide more government support to the economy.

https://www.ft.com/content/f14535bf-cd60-4a1c-aa7c-2b46e16e52b8
3. European oil stocks have been battered this year, with the pandemic-induced price crash adding
to companies’ existing challenges of reversing historical underperformance while navigating the
tricky transition to cleaner fuels.

https://www.ft.com/content/5d3b636b-e668-407c-ac46-58d6dd9de7f6
4. Netflix has managed to keep its dominant position as one of the least-canceled subscription
services in America, according to data from ANTENNA, which tracks purchase behavior and key
metrics across subscription media services.

https://www.axios.com/netflix-subscriptions-staying-power-disney-hulu-e61c7eb0-16ab-4617-
9a44-81a0da659403.html
5. Nikola Corp.'s stock plummeted on the news that GM was no longer taking an equity stake in
the electric and fuel cell truck company or planning to build its now-kaput Badger pickup.

https://www.axios.com/nikola-gm-deal-stocks-plummet-fc0b68e9-fa9a-4efc-99de-
bb4adaee266e.html
6. Stock bulls had a lot to be thankful for in November as all four major U.S. equity indexes held
major rallies.

https://www.axios.com/stock-market-investors-bullish-inflow-3a9189f6-b181-43e5-932f-
34d183e58520.html
7. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, touched its
lowest level in over two years.

https://www.axios.com/dollar-index-lowest-level-29fe6752-1b26-4e08-bd9c-
633b41840224.html
8. According to a ranking published by Bloomberg on Sunday, the Ambanis are the wealthiest
among Asia’s families, owing their riches to the Reliance Industries conglomerate headquartered
in Mumbai.
 https://www.statista.com/chart/23648/richest-families-in-asia/?
utm_source=Statista+Global&utm_campaign=886297826b-
All_InfographTicker_daily_COM_PM_KW49_2020_Mo_COPY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=
0_afecd219f5-886297826b-309824226

9. While most reports regarding potential Covid-19 vaccines have quite rightly focused on their
efficacy, ease of distribution and cost are other key factors involved in a global rollout.
 https://www.statista.com/chart/23658/reported-cost-per-dose-of-covid-19-vaccines/?
utm_source=Statista+Global&utm_campaign=886297826b-
All_InfographTicker_daily_COM_PM_KW49_2020_Mo_COPY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=
0_afecd219f5-886297826b-309824226

10. Following a significant contraction in Q2, Canada’s economy rebounded in Q3, rising a little over
40% quarter-over-quarter annualized.
https://image.mail1.wf.com/lib/fe8d13727664027a7c/m/5/befb54fe-9daa-4eb6-a08b-
eb9dcac7ffac.pdf?
utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_term=7230679
&sid=2622369
11. Oil slid as lingering tension among OPEC producers highlighted the uncertainty surrounding a
delay to the group’s planned output increase.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-30/oil-declines-as-opec-struggles-for-
consensus-on-output-plan?
cmpid=BBD120120_CEU&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=201201&ut
m_campaign=closeeurope
12. Schnabel, 49, is a former University of Bonn economist who joined the ECB this year after Sabine
Lautenschlaeger resigned. She is seen as less hawkish than her German predecessors, and has
pledged to counter criticism in her homeland of the central bank’s loose monetary policy.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-01/ecb-s-schnabel-warns-against-hopes-
for-blockbuster-stimulus?
cmpid=BBD120120_CEU&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=201201&ut
m_campaign=closeeurope
13. Bitcoin’s true believers are taking a victory lap after the cryptocurrency’s fresh all-time high of
almost $20,000.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-01/what-bitcoin-s-new-record-means-
for-wall-street?
cmpid=BBD120120_CEU&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=201201&ut
m_campaign=closeeurope
14. The European Central Bank has skewed its asset purchases to favor Italian government bonds,
helping push the nation’s yields to record lows.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-01/italy-reverts-to-its-bad-old-habits-
on-eu-pandemic-fund?
cmpid=BBD120120_CEU&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=201201&ut
m_campaign=closeeurope
15. The biggest challengers to Topshop, have been the online retailers Asos Plc and Boohoo Group
Plc. Unencumbered by a big store network, they could match Topshop’s edgy styles and get
trends to customers faster, for lower prices.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-01/arcadia-administration-billionaire-
rivalry-leaves-topshop-to-fend-for-itself?
cmpid=BBD120120_CEU&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=201201&ut
m_campaign=closeeurope
16. Some investors are betting that the Federal Reserve could start buying more long-term U.S.
Treasurys as soon as its next policy meeting, a trend that has helped temper some recent selling
and kept yields from rising higher.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/bets-on-more-fed-bond-buying-help-contain-treasury-yields-
11606905001
17. The Treasury Department’s decision last month not to renew a suite of emergency Federal
Reserve lending programs touched off a partisan fight over whether and how the Biden
administration should be allowed to use the programs.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/partisan-fight-over-fed-lending-programs-escalates-11606836901
18. The prospect of coronavirus vaccines on the horizon has boosted hopes of an end to the
pandemic-wrought downturn—but first the global economy could face a long and difficult
winter.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-economy-faces-difficult-winter-despite-covid-19-vaccine-
hopes-11606822321
19. From advanced-degree holders to high-school dropouts, Black workers have substantially higher
unemployment rates at every level of educational attainment than white workers—and the
disparity has widened this year during the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus
pandemic and related shutdowns.
 https://www.wsj.com/articles/disparity-in-jobless-rates-suggests-black-workers-face-slower-
recovery-11606645801

20. Florida voters’ approval of a $15 minimum wage is fueling the hopes of advocates who aim to
pass similar measures in other states, though still-elevated unemployment and lower costs of
living in rural areas remain challenges.
 https://www.wsj.com/articles/floridas-approval-of-15-minimum-wage-sets-up-battle-in-other-
states-11606482001

21. Mr. Kuroda has led the Bank of Japan’s push, unusual among global central banks, to invest in
the Tokyo stock market as a way of rousing the nation’s animal spirits.
 https://www.wsj.com/articles/japans-stock-playing-central-bank-racks-up-56-billion-gain-
11606389909

22. Climate change will affect all countries in Asia, but those with lower levels of per capita GDP will
suffer most because their economies rely more on outdoor work and natural capital. And as it
gets hotter, people won’t be able to work outdoors as much.

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/coronavirus-leading-through-the-crisis/charting-
the-path-to-the-next-normal/heres-why-the-poorest-countries-in-asia-are-most-at-risk-from-
climate-change
23. Most workers globally can’t work a full day from home without suffering productivity losses,
according to a McKinsey Global Institute analysis of more than 2,000 job tasks across more than
800 occupations. That’s because most of their tasks need to be done on-site.

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/coronavirus-leading-through-the-crisis/charting-
the-path-to-the-next-normal/working-from-home-youre-still-in-the-minority
24. Ninety-six percent of companies rapidly changed their HR policies in response to the pandemic
—offering flex time and remote work, for example. But employees are struggling with mental
health and a sense of belonging. And diverse employees, especially, are having the hardest time
balancing work and home.

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/coronavirus-leading-through-the-crisis/charting-
the-path-to-the-next-normal/despite-hr-interventions-women-lgbtq-plus-employees-people-of-
color-and-parents-all-say-they-are-really-struggling
25. In the week ending November 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was
712,000, a decrease of 75,000 from the previous week's revised level.

https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf
26. When Pfizer and BioNTech, two pharmaceutical companies, revealed in November that their
covid-19 vaccine was over 90% effective, health experts celebrated around the world.
Stockmarkets, however, responded with a mere golf clap. The s&p 500, a technology-heavy
index of big American firms, rose by just 1.2% that day.
 https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/12/05/a-covid-19-vaccine-helps-people-but-
not-some-firms-share-prices

27. As greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere increase, extremes of heat such as that in
Verkhoyansk are becoming more frequent. According to a new report in the Lancet, this is
putting an increasing number of lives at risk.

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/12/03/heatwaves-are-killing-a-record-
number-of-people
28. Remittances to lower- and middle-income countries will shrink by only 7% this year, world bank
now reckons. In Latin America, the amount will barely budge, falling by 0.2%.

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/12/02/why-the-pandemic-has-not-dented-
latin-american-remittances
29. A recent paper by researchers at the European Central Bank calls into question how much
influence this group, known as OPEC+, can have on the matter that most concerns it: the oil
price.

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/11/30/opec-production-cuts-have-done-little-
to-boost-oil-prices
30. Businesses in America were laid waste when covid-19 first swept across the country. A record
20m Americans filed for unemployment benefits in April, when the jobless rate hit a peak of
14.7%. And yet, even as the virus has persisted, the economy has begun to show signs of life.
The latest figures, for October, put the unemployment rate at 6.9%.
 https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/12/01/the-recovery-of-low-wage-jobs-in-
america-from-covid-19-has-halted

31. The pound has powered to its highest level in a year against the dollar, as weakness in the US
currency compounded a sense of optimism that a UK-EU trade deal could be close.
 https://www.ft.com/content/b9466baa-9c52-49e9-8c10-58b1abd873d6

32. A latest report, which was released on Thursday, shows that 2020 has indeed tipped
globalisation into retreat — at least in the short run. Taking 2000 as a baseline of 100, the index
hit 126 in 2017, 122 in the past two years and is provisionally projected to have slipped to
somewhere in the range of 111 and 121 this year (sensibly, it is presented as a band in the
report).
 https://www.ft.com/content/4ab21d78-270f-4c92-b9ce-4adf75041005

33. The price of iron ore reached a seven-year high on Wednesday after one of the biggest global
producers of the material lowered its output forecasts, giving further momentum to what has
been the best-performing major commodity of 2020.
 https://www.ft.com/content/03b61ec7-718f-4614-b951-1981b9b807d3

34. Surging sales in electric cars have encouraged investors to bet on a rebound in the lithium
market, setting off a dizzying rally in equities linked to the raw material.
 https://www.ft.com/content/b9395e8c-9321-4351-b98d-a664b1e99b03

35. The IHS Markit services purchasing managers’ index, a measure of the sector’s economic health,
fell to 47.6 in November from 51.4 the previous month, the lowest level since May. However,
the figure was higher than the initial estimates of 45.8 and well above the low of 13.4 in April.

https://www.ft.com/content/49ce376d-a049-4896-ab24-62691db380ae
36. In the US, research effort since the 1930s has risen by a factor of 23, an average growth rate of
4.3 per cent a year. But research productivity has fallen by a factor of 41, or minus 5.1 per cent a
year, a paper found.

https://www.ft.com/content/e59566cb-386e-448b-8d55-55c757c03cbb
37. Salesforce has announced that it is acquiring Slack Technologies, the company behind the
popular workplace communication tool of the same name, for $27.7 billion. Slack had a market
capitalization of $25 billion Tuesday after its shares jumped on the news of the possible
acquisition last week.

https://www.statista.com/chart/22859/paid-customers-of-slack
38. In the quarter ended October 31, the third quarter of Zoom's fiscal year 2021, total revenue for
the video conferencing company amounted to $777 million, up 367 percent from the same
period of last year.

https://www.statista.com/chart/21906/zoom-revenue/?
utm_source=Statista+Global&utm_campaign=3fed5d5953-
All_InfographTicker_daily_COM_PM_KW49_2020_Mo_COPY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=
 0_afecd219f5-3fed5d5953-309824226

39. According to monthly figures published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages jumped at the
onset of the pandemic and remained elevated ever since. And while that may look like a positive
development, it’s actually a sign of an even deeper crisis compared to countries that saw wages
slump in recent months.
 https://www.statista.com/chart/23682/average-weekly-wages-in-the-united-states/?
utm_source=Statista+Global&utm_campaign=3fed5d5953-
All_InfographTicker_daily_COM_PM_KW49_2020_Mo_COPY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=
0_afecd219f5-3fed5d5953-309824226

40. The U.S. economy added 245,000 jobs in November, while the unemployment rate fell to 6.7%
from 6.9%, the government said on Friday.

https://www.axios.com/november-jobs-report-4ae63fd8-8d24-4970-8868-fde43a90851c.html
41. A spate of recent U.S. economic data releases suggest that inflation could be making a major
comeback.

https://www.axios.com/inflation-spike-markets-b2550409-4b0c-4b1c-8c8b-070fb6db8375.html
42. Copper prices rose to the highest since March 2013 on Thursday, spurred by substantial
increases in orders from China and expectations it will be a major component in new green
energy projects.

https://www.axios.com/copper-prices-high-green-energy-4f6bce7b-ab2c-4d7b-8623-
b227b9b6c5ba.html
43. The McRib from McDonald's is a rare beast indeed. U.S. fast-food chains tend to avoid pork,
outside of breakfast items, and the McRib hasn't been available nationwide since 2012.

https://www.axios.com/mcdonalds-mcrib-returns-pork-price-low-fb8067e8-c200-4e7c-bbb2-
cc5ae915a342.html
44. Black Friday was disappointing for retailers this year, as spending numbers underwhelmed and
foot traffic declined dramatically, according to data from analytics firm Placer.ai.

https://www.axios.com/black-friday-sales-silver-lining-95f88dc0-9359-4744-b9f3-
8ece0ef01cad.html
45. The U.S. Postal Service is likely to be upgrading its fleet of trucks with electric vehicles soon, but
the decision has been pushed back to next year.
https://www.axios.com/usps-electric-vehicle-delay-c148ef0c-aaaf-4d39-a9e3-
89748d9f5f30.html
46. The gain in exports (+2.2%) modestly outpaced imports (+2.1%), but the U.S. trade balance still
widened 1.7% to a deficit of $63.1B. Trade continued to rebound in October, but exports have
more ground to make up.

https://image.mail1.wf.com/lib/fe8d13727664027a7c/m/5/74c4d5bd-025e-4daa-afa0-
a5a723662a4c.pdf?
utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_term=7230679
&sid=2622369
47. A stellar November helped the S&P 500 Index close above its upper monthly Bollinger band, but
that may signal a period of consolidation is ahead.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-04/these-five-charts-throw-cold-water-on-
chances-of-santa-rally?
cmpid=BBD120420_OUS&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=201204&ut
m_campaign=openamericas
48. The companies made their pledges public between George Floyd’s killing in May and the end of
October. More than three-quarters of the commitments are aimed at affordable housing and
the development of small and medium-size businesses, according to an analysis by the new
McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility.
 https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/coronavirus-leading-through-the-crisis/charting-
the-path-to-the-next-normal/its-a-start-fortune-1000-companies-commit-66-billion-to-racial-
equity-initiatives

49. Brent crude, the international gauge for oil prices, may be overhauled to reflect the growing
importance of U.S. exports in global energy markets.
 https://www.wsj.com/articles/international-oil-benchmark-weighs-adding-u-s-crude-to-mix-
11607030826?mod=markets_lead_pos6

50. Some shoppers might feel thriftier than usual during this unusual holiday season, but merchants
are increasingly offering a payment method that could help them to spend a bit more.
 https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-seek-growth-now-in-paying-later-11607077800?
mod=markets_lead_pos11

51. The car market, as it turns out, isn’t so easy to disrupt. Car designs evolve slowly over years and
involve thousands of suppliers with deep relationships. Most auto makers are understandably
reluctant to hand over the keys to tech giants that have upended many other industries such as
telecommunications, media and advertising.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-techs-auto-dreams-are-stuck-in-the-slow-lane-11607083381?
mod=markets_lead_pos12
52. Past La Niñas have created significant market volatility and raised prices for many foods, and the
current edition is already pushing up prices of crops such as corn and reducing supplies of
pineapples and mangos.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/weather-upending-la-nina-is-a-headache-for-farmers-around-
the-world-11607077803?mod=markets_lead_pos7