Above the Fold

America Is Making the Rest of the World Look Good 

No, that’s not a dig on America at all. In fact, the United States is responsible for lifting the economies of many trading partners. Unprecedented stimulus (with more on the way), combined with extraordinary consumer demand and a booming housing market, are all helping countries like Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the Eurozone lift their respective outputs prodigiously. Despite a slowing Chinese economy and weak consumer demand in the Eurozone, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently increased its estimates for global economic growth this year to 5.8%, the quickest expansion in nearly 50 years.

But while America drives a global recovery, it’s also creating global inflationary pressure, and continued logistical issues, which may hinder the positive effects elsewhere since we import so much. According to HSBC, the U.S. is expected to add about $170 billion in additional imports every year through 2026, compared with about $140 billion in China.

Three Things 

1. Coal Hits 10-Year High Despite Green Energy Momentum – As cities, companies and even countries vow to dramatically reduce carbon emissions, coal prices are soaring to decade highs. The rally comes on the heels of a rise in natural gas and crude oil prices, along with several natural disasters and trade restrictions that have limited coal production and shipments into China, while the Asian nation experiences a rise in electricity demand. 
2. Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (Seems) Set to Move Forward – President Biden seems to have acquiesced to the idea of signing a stand-alone, widely supported infrastructure bill that’s expected to distribute $600 billion in new spending on roads, bridges and broadband throughout the country. The legislation seemed to be in jeopardy Friday after the President suggested it must be accompanied by a separate bill that included child care, climate change, Medicare expansion and other progressive priorities.
3. Microsoft Deletes Internet Explorer – For the first time in more than 20 years, Windows operating systems will be loaded and shipped without Internet Explorer. The company’s latest operating system, Windows 11, will not include the legacy software (it actually completely removes it if you upgrade) and the venerable browser (IE) will be laid to rest forever on June 15, 2022, replaced entirely by Microsoft Edge. 

Did You Know? 

Secrets About Microsoft

Microsoft was founded in 1975 by college students Bill Gates and Paul Allen (Gates attended Harvard, while Allen studied at Washington State University). In its early years, Bill Gates also collaborated heavily with Steve Jobs. In fact, Microsoft Office was originally built solely for the Apple Macintosh computer in 1985; it wasn’t until 1990 when the “Windows Version” was made available. While Gates and Jobs had a rocky relationship, it was Microsoft that bailed out Apple in 1997 with a $150 million investment … the same year Jobs became CEO of Apple.