Thursday, December 29, 2016

Economic News , Data & Views ...... December 29 , 2016.....Quick Hits For Thursday - 1) Markets : Asia Economic Outlook And News / Data For Friday ; US Stock Indexes & Oil Drift Lower As End Of Week & Month & Year Beckons ; Europe Indexes Also Mostly Lower On Thursday . 2) US Politics : US Sanctions Announced Against Russia For Alleged Russian Cyber-Hacking During The US Election ; Additional US Political Updates - GOP Agenda , Transition Items , Odds & Ends. 3) Europe In Focus : Despite False Rumors , Queen Is Not Dead ; Greece Items Of Note ; Monte dei Paschi Items De Jour ; News From Germany - Berlin Xmas Market Related Items , Refugee Expenditures Strain German Stats Who Seek Federal Assistance. MENA : Israel Item - Netanyahu Faces Criminal Investigation For Corruption & Bribery ; Libya News For Thursday - Domestic & International Items ; Syria Ceasefire Details - Naturally Plenty Of Pieces In Movement Here.



Markets....



Asia.....






Economic data due from Asia today - fuggedaboudit. (But stay tuned for the weekend!)





Ouch! Shanghai Composite ends the year down 12.3% for 2016 after +9.4% in 2015. 2016 is worst year since 2011. Is the worst over for ?








PBOC sets USD/CNY central rate at 6.9370 (vs. yesterday at 6.9497)







Euro stabilizing now.. but that massive pop was a cool 160 pips. Looks to be algo-driven amid thin liquidity










Euro really taking off now....







Euro just now







USD/JPY dropping sharply... 10 minutes to cash market open in Tokyo







New Zealand market shuts for the year. Stocks clock in a 5th straight year of gains and 11th in the last 15 years.







South Korean stocks close for 2016. KOSPI at 2,026. Up 3.3% YTD. Second straight annual gain.






Philippine stocks close for 2016. Index at 6,840. Down 1.6% YTD. Second straight annual loss.








US & Europe....





DOW JONES UNOFFICIALLY CLOSES DOWN 13.14 POINTS, OR 0.07 PERCENT, AT 19,820.54




S&P 500 UNOFFICIALLY CLOSES DOWN 0.74 POINTS, OR 0.03 PERCENT, AT 2,249.18





NASDAQ UNOFFICIALLY CLOSES DOWN 7.33 POINTS, OR 0.13 PERCENT, AT 5,431.23






U.S. CRUDE OIL FUTURES SETTLE AT $53.77/BBL, DOWN 29 CENTS, 0.54 PCT






DOE Crude oil inventories for Dec 23rd week +614 vs -1500K est.





Two strong auctions in a row. Today's auction follows smoking 5 year auction from Wednesday.







EUROPE'S STOXX 600 PROVISIONALLY CLOSES 0.4 PCT LOWER






BRITAIN'S FTSE 100 PROVISIONALLY ENDS AT RECORD CLOSING HIGH OF 7,109.95 POINTS






GERMANY'S DAX FALLS 0.3 PCT, FRANCE'S CAC 40 DOWN 0.3 PCT






European stocks end mostly lower on the day





US Politics.....




( Much More On US Sanctions On Russia At Twitter TL.)





Putin approach - rather than tit for tat sanctions , seems to be Russia taking the high road and simply waiting out Obama Administration...











Russia to expel 35 U.S. Diplomats , close Int'l Day School & ban U.S. from using a recreational site outside Moscow & warehouse in Moscow.








And Russia set to engage in "tit for tat" retaliatory sanctions....US expels 35 "diplomats" on Thursday , Russia Follows suit Friday.








Russia fires back after sanctions by closing international school: report







CNN also reported that a U.S. embassy vacation house in Serebryany Bor near Moscow will be closed as well. 2








Russia Warns Of "Proportional Response" To Obama Sanctions' "Signs Of Real Paranoia"








Conway: Obama's actions against Russia "largely symbolic







.'s response to US retaliation for Russian hacking begins again with a call to "move on"









Trump on Russia hacking: "Time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless" will meet with intelligence community.







Here is the full report from FBI and DHS concerning the russian cyberhack.








Here is the official announcement of new russia sanctions from Treasury Department








Here is the meat of the announcement related to actions taken in response to alleged russian hacking.










Apart from expelling the 35 "diplomats" , Russia to be denied access to Compounds in NY and MD- effective noon Fri.










Experts interviewed by seem underwhelmed by Obama's sanctions on 's diplomats & intel agencies.







Obama warns US will continue to take unspecified actions against Russia, says not all of it will be publicized.







Naturally , Russia will engage in tit for tat sanctions...









School board demands resignation of Paladino, Trump's former NY co-chair, after his racist comments about the Obamas








China warns against allowing Taiwan leader to land in U.S. next month:















Report: U.S. scrambling to explain support for anti-Israel UN resolution





This is good news , if confirmed as factual.









NEW: GOP Readies Swift Obamacare Repeal With No Replacement in Place Republicans differ on how long to delay repeal.






"Honestly, it’s a very routine thing. It’s not a big deal. You people are making that a big deal," Trump to press, on plan for his business.







Trump, to press last night, on Obama's call: "I'm getting along very well with him, other than a couple of statements that I responded to."







Lawmakers from both US political parties denounced Kerry's Israel speech. Europe liked it, Arab states didn't care.



Europe In Focus.....





The Queen is NOT dead: False rumours of monarch's demise spread across Twitter sparked by fake BBC account








Greek Deputy FinMin Sends MoU to Pertinent Ministers Regarding 2017 Budget






Asylum Applications Skyrocket in Greece







Horrible news regarding missing Greek Ambassador to Brazil...








Greek Ambassador to Brazil Missing for 3 Days






ND’s Mitsotakis Says SYRIZA Government Is Two-Faced, Calls FinMin’s Letter to Creditors ‘Contemptible’





ELSTAT: Number of Registered Doctors in Greece Declining Steadily






Concerns Arise With Parliament’s Amendment Allowing Rehire of Municipal Contract Workers





on collision course w/ over Monte. PM Gentiloni & FinMin Padoan surprised regulator saw bigger cap gap.






ITALY PM GENTILONI SAYS IMPLEMENTING DECREE TO SAVE BANKS WILL BE LONG AND COMPLICATED






*EU APPROVES LIQUIDITY SUPPORT FOR MONTE DEI PASCHI






Would not be shocking to find out the Russian intel services are spying on Germany. Spies will spy.







23 year old Tunisian allegedly plotted attack in Italy...







German states seek 15.6 bn euros to cover refugee costs from Federal Gov't.








After their investigation, German Authorities release the unnamed 40 year Tunisia man. Not contact of the killer.







BREAKING: Germany to release Tunisian detained in connection with Berlin truck attack - spokeswoman for federal prosecutor







MENA......





Israel.....






Something to keep an eye on....






Libya...






Jamal Zubia filed a lawsuit in a local court vs PC-plans to file a/o case w/ Int'l Crim Court on charges of forced disappearance & torture.







Haftar is sending reinforcement to the 12th Brigade in the South and is sending BAM forces to help the 3rd Force.













Rebuilding of









Large medicine & supply shipment from arrives at 's medical depot for eastern region distribution








's Sisi to Ageilah Saleh: Only Libyans have the right to determine their own destiny.







Egyptian President El-Sisi pledges support for Libya's national sovereignty & territorial integrity in meeting with HoR Pres Agila Saleh









city : is attacking in Salam, Sumer, Wahida, Al-Quds, al-Karamah, Industrial + al-Habda districts v +








On December 28, "ISIS watch" of has banned 2360 bots and channels. 1987 in September, 1800 in October and 2094 in November.





Syria.....






Syrian army announces ceasefire,excluding IS,Jabhat al-Nusra (Jabhat Fatah al-Sham), & "the groups connected w/them"






1— Here's what we know so far about the ceasefire: Turkey+Russia have outlined an agreement, but warring parties have yet to sign it.





2— has seen an unsigned draft of the deal from the 'n opposition–it does *not* excluded by name any armed groups except Daesh





3—The draft text I've seen excludes from ceasefire "military headquarters of Daesh + other terrorist groups designated by the UNSC."





4—The ceasefire agreement as it stands cites locations (specifically military HQs) instead of groups, which can be located anywhere.




5—'n opposition officials directly connected to the negotiations said they pushed for this because past ceasefires have collapsed…





6—…bc 'n regime considers all Idlib province "under terrorist control," and thus its entire territory (with its civilians) fair game.





7—Reports have said that there is an "agreement" for a ceasefire—





8—An agreement isn't a ceasefire until it's signed on the dotted line & given assurances from the warring parties that they'll stop shooting





9—'n opposition reps have told me this is a "very good sign" – but as with the many ceasefires that came before, they are skeptical.





10—Turkey and Russia gave assurances that they would guarantee the ceasefire — Turkey for the opposition, Russia for 'n regime + Iran.






—Provided to by 'n opposition negotiators— This is a final draft of the ceasefire agreement text:







12—A few things we don't know about the ceasefire agreement: • Exact final text • How it will be implemented • Consequences if broken














agreed on a general cease-fire starting from midnight, except and (Nusra, JFS).







Not a shocker - JFS punked a FSA outfit once again , stealing fuel and ammo while taking three bases ......




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