News From the Control Tower - 3/2/2022

News from the Control Tower: Our weekly curated list of news stories affecting you and your finances.

This week’s reads include:

1.   The Modern History of Economic Sanctions

Sanctions are often unpredictable in their consequences.

2.   Experts are divided on the consequences of companies divesting from Russia.

Businesses run by U.S. or European firms could be turned over to Russian or Chinese operators.

3.   Toyota stops production in Japan after a cyberattack at a supplier.

A supplier to the automaker shut down its computer network in response to a hack.

4.   Here comes the full Amazon-ification of Whole Foods

A newly revamped store in Washington shows how thoroughly Amazon has woven itself into the grocery shopping experience.

5.   Uncle Sam Turns to Crypto Exchanges to Impede Russian Sanction Evaders

The White House wants crypto exchanges to block sanctioned individuals. Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and KuCoin refuse to blanket ban Russians.

6.   With inflation and Ukraine, Powell must thread a needle on Capitol Hill this week to calm markets

Powell will have to convince Congress the Fed is doing more to combat inflation at a time when the markets think it will be doing less.

Bonus: The best books on Ukraine and Russia

Serhii Plokhy, Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University, recommends books to better understand the conflict, from an introductory work by an eminent historian to the latest work of some of Ukraine's leading novelists.