Commentary The expression used in the title conveys a sense of foreboding and early warning of trouble. It comes from the time before electronic sensory equipment when coal miners used these fragile birds to warn them of the presence of deadly methane gas in the mine shaft. If the bird collapsed, the miners had an…

Australia’s incoming ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd urged the nation to stop throwing its allies “under a bus” if it wants to counter China’s economic influence in the Asia-Pacific. Rudd, a former Labor prime minister of Australia who will take up his diplomatic posting in March, said the United States had “one arm…

Global shares climbed on Sept. 1, in spite of data pointing towards fresh signs of an economic slowdown in Asian economies, while Wall Street futures pointed to early gains and the U.S. dollar remained largely flat after lifting off three-week lows. MSCI’s all-country world index climbed to its fourth intraday high in a row, while the…