The governing style of Xi Jinping appears to be changing in subtle ways. He is allowing trusted lieutenants to implement his agenda and appearing in public less frequently. But don’t mistake these developments for a loss of power. There are no indications that Mr Xi is in trouble. He may simply be growing more oracle-like. 

Elsewhere, we look at how Americans can get cheap mortgage rates. You can try to find an assumable mortgage or arrange a “buy-down”. Such creative-financing techniques tend to reappear when interest rates are high. But they have snags.