Real median household income in the United States grew last year for the first time since 2007, to $56,500. That is up by 5.2% compared with 2014, the biggest percentage-point increase since the measure was introduced in 1967 (though, adjusted for inflation, household income was still 2.4% below its peak in the 1990s). The proportion of people below the poverty line fell by the most since 1999, to 13.5% of the population. The good news came eight weeks before America’s election.
從2007年以來, 美國中階家庭收入在去年第一次成長至$56,500. 相較於2014年成長5.2%. 自從1967年引入計算方式以來, 這是最高的百分比成長 (即使因通貨膨脹而調整計算方式,家庭收入仍低於1990年代最高峰2.4%, ). 貧窮人口占比降低至13.5%, 自1999年以來降低最多. 這個好消息發生於美國大選前8個禮拜.

Increasing interest
Uncertainty about whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates on September 21st caused jitters on global stockmarkets, some of which recorded their biggest daily falls since Britain’s vote in June to leave the EU. Janet Yellen, the central bank’s chairman, has suggested that the economic evidence for lifting rates is strong, but Lael Brainard, a senior Fed official, warned that tightening monetary policy now would be risky.
升息
九月二十一日美國聯邦準備理事會(Federal Reserve)升息的不確定性導致全球股市緊張, 有些甚至跌破自英國公投脫歐以來之紀錄. 中央銀行主席Janet Yellen認為支持升息之經濟現象已經足夠, 但Fed資深幹事Lael Brainard警告現在實施緊縮貨幣政策仍是具有風險.
Britain’s Council of Mortgage Lenders reported that the number of home loans fell sharply in July compared with the same month last year, but it could not determine if this was a reaction to Brexit or an indication of a market that was already cooling. Buy-to-let mortgages were down by 26%.
英國抵押貸款理事會指出七月份家庭貸款相較於去年巨幅下降, 但這不能確定是否為脫歐或是市場降溫所導致. 房地產抵押已下降26%.

Wells Fargo said it would ditch employee sales targets after it emerged that customers had been issued credit cards and bank accounts without their knowledge in order to meet branch goals. It is an embarrassing episode for Wells Fargo, which mostly avoided the allegations of impropriety that have tarnished the industry. Federal prosecutors are reportedly looking into the case. 
Wells Fargo在客戶不知情狀況下替他們申辦信用卡與開戶來達成分行銷售目標之事情曝光後, Wells Fargo指出他們將會放棄業務銷售目標. 這對Wells Fargo來說是很尷尬的, 因為他們努力避免敗壞業界的不適當指控. 據傳聞, 聯邦檢察官正在調查此案件.

Postal Savings Bank of China launched an IPO in Hong Kong to raise up to $8.1 billion, making it the world’s biggest flotation since Alibaba in 2014. Most of the shares are being sold to other Chinese state-owned enterprises, which cannot sell them for six months, a recurring feature of IPOs in Hong Kong that lessens the risk of a flop but also reduces market liquidity.
中國儲蓄郵政銀行在香港發行IPO, 集資達81億, 繼2014阿里巴巴以來, 為世上最大發行者. 大部分股份售於中國其他國有企業, 其六個月內不能銷售該股份. 香港定期發行IPO之特色減少其跌落風險, 但也降低市場流動性.

Hailing a taxi
Uber wheeled out a pilot programme in Pittsburgh in which some of its vehicles are self-driving. Although a driver still sits behind the wheel and takes control in some circumstances, such as in unusual traffic situations, Uber proclaimed it the most extensive public use yet of autonomous cars. Elsewhere, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, unveiled plans to protect the city’s traditional black-cab industry, a bitter foe of Uber, including grants for drivers to buy greener vehicles and promoting taxis as public transport. 
計程車的歡呼
Uber在匹茲堡推出駕駛員程式, 使得有些車輛可以自行駕駛. 雖然駕駛仍坐在方向盤後, 在特定情況下做操控, 例如不尋常的交通情況, 但Uber聲明這會被大眾廣泛使用之自主式汽車. 在其他地方, 倫敦市長Sadiq Khane, Uber的反對者, 則公開計畫保護室內傳統黑色計程車產業, 包括資助司機購買環保車輛與推廣計程車為大眾運輸.

A long-awaited report from the UN recommended that developing countries should be allowed to override patents on life-saving drugs and license generic versions.



 The pharmaceutical industry had fought hard to keep the recommendation out of the study, which they wanted to focus on issues such as inadequate storage facilities for medicine. The only industry representative on the report’s panel warned that compulsory licensing of generic drugs would cause uncertainty among investors. See article. 
In the biggest foreign takeover to date by a German company, Bayer agreed to buyMonsanto for $66 billion, after four months of courting its American rival. The deal will create the world’s biggest supplier of agricultural seed and crop spray, but it faces antitrust obstacles. The rapid pace of consolidation in the agribusiness industry means just three big players could soon dominate the sector.
Jim Yong Kim will serve a second term as president of the World Bank, as the nomination process for candidates ended with no challengers. Mr Kim has been sharply criticised for his ham-fisted reforms of the institution, prompting an unprecedented rebuke from its staff association. In an outdated convention, America has the final say on who leads the bank.
José Manuel Barroso hit back at the European Commission’s decision to treat him as a lobbyist for Goldman Sachs in future meetings. Mr Barroso is a former president of the commission but now advises the investment bank. He says the commission’s decision is “discriminatory”.
Polymore
Cash machines in England and Wales dispensed the Bank of England’s new polymer £5 note, Britain’s first plastic currency. Low interest rates are one reason why holding cash is still popular in an age of digital transactions. Polymer notes are much more durable than paper ones. One TV presenter spent a lot of time trying, without success, to damage or destroy the new fiver, dunking it in his coffee, chewing it and attempting to rip it. Mark Carney, the Bank of England’s governor, dipped a note in a pan of curry to publicise its sturdiness.