What We Read Today 05 September 2014

Econintersect: Every day our editors collect the most interesting things they find from around the internet and present a summary “reading list” which will include very brief summaries (and sometimes longer ones) of why each item has gotten our attention. Suggestions from readers for “reading list” items are gratefully reviewed, although sometimes space limits the number included.

• Draghi brings out ABS rocket boosters (Ralph Atkins, Financial Times) The ECB (European Central Bank) action announced today is not QE (quantitative easing) in the form it has been customarily used. Instead of boosting weakened banks with expanded reserves with the expectation that lending will then be increased, the ECB is injecting money directly into the real (non-financial) economy by purchasing ABS (asset backed securities) and covered bonds. More ‘behind the wall’.

• Abe’s Support Jumps After Boosting Female Ministers in Reshuffle (Isabel Reynolds, Bloomberg) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gained support in polls following placing a record-breaking five women in his cabinet. One poll has his approval rating at 64% and another has 60%. Previously polls were running just above and just below 50%.

• Recent articles about Ferguson:

Holder announces Ferguson probe, review of St. Louis County police practices (Kimberly Kindy and Sari Horwitz, The Washington Post) Too bad for St. Louis County police that they are not bankers.

• Articles about wars elsewhere in the world:

As Islamist Militants Advance, Residents Flee a Nigerian City (Adam Nossiter, The New York Times)

Al Qaeda’s new Indian subcontinent branch: What it means for Myanmar (The Interpreter)

UK edges closer to military operations against Isis (Sam Jones, Jim Pickard and George Parker, Financial Times)

Between Gaza and Israel, a Border Crossing in Need of Travelers (Jodi Rudoren, The New York Times)

Somalia offers amnesty to al-Shabab fighters (Al Jazeera)

Libyan Militias Seize Control of Capital as Chaos Rises (David D. Kirkpatrick, The New York Times)

Why Airstrikes In Syria Won’t Work (Adam Schiff, The Daily Beast)

Syria May Have Hidden Chemical Arms, U.S. Says (Rick Gladstone, The New York Times)

The Islamic State is forcing the West out of its Iraq war trauma (Anshel Pfeiffer, Haaretz)

Ukraine and rebels back peace plan, ceasefire from Friday (Adrian Croft and Gabriela Baczynska, Reuters)

There are 13 articles discussed today ‘behind the wall’.

This week we have started a new section “Other Economics and Business Items of Note”, the final section every day.

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