------- Original Message -------- Subject: The 10-Point: Health-Care Demographics, Sanctions and Business, Buffetts Cubs and More Date: Fri, 02 May 2014 07:25:24 -0400 From: Gerard Baker, WSJ Reply-To: [email protected] To: [email protected] WSJ - The 10-Point. Gerard Baker Editor in Chief of The Wall Street Journal Good morning from New York, The Young and the Restless Under the U.S. Affordable Care Act, some demographic groups are more prized than others. As we have reported, the economics of the law depend on whether insurers can keep prices in check by enrolling enough younger, healthier people to balance out the bills that could be racked up by the elderly, who are more likely to get sick. Data released Thursday by the Obama administration show that about 28% of people picking plans on the state and federal insurance exchanges by April 19—after most states enrollment deadlines passed—were 18 to 34 years old, generally considered a healthy group. And though higher than previous counts, the proportion, we note, is significantly below the 40% level that some analysts consider important for holding down rates. Major insurers have offered a mixed assessment of their exchange sign-ups with some saying they are in line with projections and others indicating they are older than expected. The age data will be a key factor, as insurers are currently setting rates for 2015. Business First As the situation in Ukraine goes downhill, German officials are facing pressure from corporate executives, urging them not to damage business interests in Russia. As a result, Germany has been pushing for no more sanctions and is unlikely to change its position, barring a dramatic escalation of the conflict—a message German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to deliver to President Barack Obama when they meet in Washington today. Our story looks at the dynamics at play in the sanctions debate, noting that some 6,200 German companies are active in Russia, more than in the rest of the European Union combined. Meanwhile, we find that Exxon Mobile Corp. is pushing ahead with its plans to drill in Russias Arctic seas—its biggest opportunity to discover untapped deposits of oil and gas—even though deteriorating relations between Moscow and Washington have increased the risks. And we report that Ukraine has launched a major military operation to regain control of the pro-Russian separatist stronghold of Slovyansk, overrunning roadblocks and surrounding the city. Why Cant We Be Friends? Fans seem to love it when superheroes show up in each others comics, teaming up to battle villains by day and grab a drink together at night. But in Hollywood, things arent so friendly. Even though the animated Marvel logo may appear on numerous films, Spider-Man wont be hanging with the X-Men or Captain America. Our story looks at the complex business agreements that date back decades, preventing superheroes from pairing up on the silver screen. The cinematic rights to Marvel characters are split among three studios: Disney has Iron Man, Captain America and the Avengers; Sony Pictures has Spider-Man; and Twentieth Century Fox has the X-Men and Fantastic Four. I get asked almost every day, Why is Spider-Man not in Avengers? Why cant there be X-Men vs. Avengers? said the editor of the popular fanboy website Latino Review. Its massively confusing to most people. Buffetts Bed and Breakfast Watch your prices, Omaha, or Warren Buffett might leave. Every year, tens of thousands attend Berkshire Hathaways shareholder meeting in Mr. Buffetts hometown. But ahead of the annual gathering this weekend, we find that the famed investor complained of price gouging by local hotels and urged his acolytes to consider saving money by booking rooms through Airbnb, the online startup that has become a scourge of the hospitality industry. He even suggested to the Omaha World-Herald newspaper, which Berkshire owns, that he has considered moving the meeting to Dallas to better accommodate the swelling crowds. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal recently, Mr. Buffett said he has grown increasingly concerned about his shareholders paying exorbitant prices, noting that he is a bit of a mother bear. I want to protect my cubs, make sure shareholders are well taken care of, he said. TOP STORIES U.S. U.S. Factories Rev Up as Clouds Clear Out Crashed Oil Trains Speed Was Below New Limit WORLD Turkeys Erdogan: One of the Worlds Most Determined Internet Censors Malaysia Report Shows Confusion as Jet Vanished BUSINESS Disappearance Shakes Macaus Gambling Industry Speedskating Report Finds Several Sochi Mistakes MARKETS Retirement Investors Flock Back to Stocks NYSE Settles Charges Its Safeguards Fell Short Number of the Day $106.43 billion The value of Pfizers sweetened bid for AstraZeneca—rejected by the British drug maker earlier today. Quote of the Day [T]he only reference in this email about Benghazi is a cut-and-paste from the talking points that you guys have had for more than a year, or roughly a year. -- White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted to reporters Thursday that there was no politically motivated effort in the West Wing to hide an email disclosed this week that critics contend should have been turned over to Congress during its probe of the attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. What do you think of Mr. Carneys rebuttal? Send your response to 10point@wsj and follow @GerardTBaker on Twitter. —Compiled by Khadeeja Safdar Reader Response On Sen. Ted Cruzs comments on mistaking war weariness with an unwillingness of Americans to defend national security, Roger D. McKinney of Oklahoma wrote that he makes a distinction without a difference. Americans know that war mongers can turn anything in the world into a national security issue if they want. Its just a matter of spin. What we dont want is more American boys dying in Godforsaken places for nothing. Engage as much as you want diplomatically, but keep the troops at home. He added: [I]n all wars the U.S. has fought since the Revolution, politicians goaded the enemy into attacking so that the U.S. could claim self-defense. I think a lot of Americans have caught on to this deception and are tired of it. But Mary Jane Nalley of Texas, saying she agreed with Mr. Cruz, wrote: When our country sees a clear need to defend our national security they are behind the efforts; however, the trouble is that many efforts of the U.S. in foreign nations are an early proactive step in defending our national security which are not always easy for our country to see, and due to partisanship in the media and our Congress the dissemination of accurate info on our intent behind foreign affairs may never surface or it becomes distorted in the various processes of approval and reporting. This daily briefing is named The 10-Point after the nickname conferred by the editors of The Wall Street Journal on the lead column of the legendary Whats News digest of top stories. Technically, 10-point referred to the size of the typeface. The type is smaller now but the name lives on. You are currently subscribed as [email protected]. 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Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 16:23:53 +0000
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