Yale’s Robert J. Shiller (he of the “Case-Shiller Home Price Indices”) offers the reminder that humans aren’t computers as an introduction for the idea that the Fed’s expected move on short-term interest rates doesn’t necessarily mean any market impact that fits with expectations (good or bad). In other words, buckle up? – NYTimes
Also—not just a US issue these days – WSJ
Dealbook’s “Standard Deduction” feature discusses Yahoo’s latest plan for spinning off its $32 billion Alibaba stake while avoiding taxes—a thorny $10 billion or so question that’s hit more than a few glitches along the way – NYTimes
The European Commission’s dropping its inquiry into anticompetitive behavior by 13 of the biggest players in the credit default swaps industry, but it’s pressing on with its investigation of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) and Markit Group Ltd, a trade group and data provider, respectively. The EC didn’t have the conclusive evidence it needed to keep pursuing the banks individually (all of whom collectively control the ISDA and Markit) – Law360
Pushing Fannie & Freddie to the edges of the US’s $5.7 trillion home loan market requires some pretty serious political insider know-how; and that’s exactly what the big banks have amassed during the Obama administration – NYTimes
The Journal profiles Silicon Valley Bank—one of the US’s fastest-growing banking companies and the preferred lender to VC funds and VC-backed companies that has done business with “tens of thousands of startups” since its founding in 1983. The key for keeping much larger rivals (think JPMorgan & Morgan Stanley) at bay? Relationships – WSJ
For a man who ostensibly deals in numbers all day, ECB Chief Mario Draghi’s work is largely dominated by words—all part of encouraging/cajoling/browbeating markets into playing along, especially when his stimulus actions aren’t along the lines that they’d like to see – NYTimes
Junk bonds are potentially playing canary in the coal mine, and Wall Street is worried. But maybe not enough – WSJ
Reaction to Friday’s jobs numbers that saw an estimated 211,000 added: the economy’s just about exactly where economists thought it was—growing, but not totally fixed yet – NYTimes
Breakingviews offers some analysis of Avon’s Cerberus deal, suggesting that PE may offer it a means (as it has for others of late) for combatting an aggressive activist investor – NYTimes
GE’s $3.3 billion sale of its appliance division to Sweden’s Electrolux is done, the apparent victim of a DOJ action to stop the deal over its anticompetitive impact on the market. Under the deal’s terms, Electrolux owes GE a termination fee of $175 million – NYTimes and WSJ
When you’re (inevitably) on a conference call this week, take a second to ponder what’s happening on the other side of a fellow participant’s mute button. It might just surprise you – NYTimes
Keep an eye on this developing international dispute over, you know, buried treasure. [A minor $17 billion worth] – CNN