Notes in the Margin

The Hungarian PM told CNBC he believes there is no way forward for proposals to fund the rebuilding of Ukraine via frozen Russian assets.

Yields on Japanese government bonds have risen in recent weeks on worries about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's budget discipline, while the yen has weakened. 

Saifedean Ammous: "Property rights in Palestine have been replaced by a government agency that owns the majority of land, constantly steals more, never sells, and only leases land to one racial group." 

The GSEs have likely been told by the administration to buy up more mortgage debt to create the illusion that there is more demand for real estate than there is. 

Cuban hospitals are overwhelmed, pharma drugs are in short supply, and diagnostic tools are in short supply. The Cuban state is pretending nothing is wrong. 

Hassett was thought to be a done deal, but Trump and his allies are now suggesting that Kevin Warsh is the frontrunner. 

He's described by media as "hard right" and "ultra-conservative" which suggests he's a center-right candidate who, nonetheless, handily beat his communist rival. 

The countries seen as targets to follow Brexit are Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland, according to leaked details of the US national security strategy.

On Wednesday, the silver price hit $63.86 per ounce — nearly double its level a year ago — after the Federal Reserve trimmed rates by 25 basis points.

Christopher Chantrill: Most every corrupt government program begins as a moral crusade and ends up as a spoils system: Social Security, Medicare, Obamacare, etc.