Catharsis Ours

Economic calendar in Asia today (not much on it)

PBoC To Inject CNY 50 Bln Via 28 Day Reverse Repos

PBoC To Inject CNY 50 Bln Via 7 Day Reverse Repos
-To Inject CNY 20 Bln Via 14 Day Reverse Repos

PBoC Fixes USDCNY Reference Rate At 6.8632 (prev fix 6.8806 prev close 6.8660)

Japan PM Abe says the US understood why Japan needs monetary easing

Japan finance minister Aso wants to tell Mnuchin that can't call the yen weak now

RBA's Heath: Outlook for global growth and inflation is a lot more positive

RBA's Heath: Higher terms of trade mean upside risks to RBA forecasts for the Australian economy

US......

US stocks end with new record gains (...again)

‏@charliebilello

Tuesday

S&P: All-Time High
Dow: All-Time High
Nasdaq: All-Time High
MidCap 400: All-Time High
Russell 2k: All-Time High
NYSE: All-Time High

US crude oil futures settle at $53.20

OIL - private inventory data shows US crude stocks build bigger than expected

Trump currency policy change is more than it seems

Fed's Lockhart: I don't see a compelling reason for March hike

Fed's Lockhart: US economy well-poised for growth and moderate rate hikes

Kaplan: We should hike sooner rather than later

More from Kaplan: Would be wise to ease up on monetary policy gas pedal

Five key takeaways from Yellen's Senate testimony

Yellen: Can't say whether hike will come in March or June

Fed Yellen's Testimony:  Market may re-price a March hike - CIBC

US Politics.....

( More At Twitter Timeline.)

‏@realDonaldTrump

'Remarks by President Trump at Signing of H.J. Resolution 41'
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/14/remarks-president-trump-signing-hj-resolution-41 …

‏@realDonaldTrump

The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?

‏@JenniferJJacobs

TRUMP WEDS:

-Retail industry
-Benjamin Netanyahu
-call w president of Argentina
-legislative strategy session
-dinner w Marco Rubio and wife

‏@JenniferJJacobs

White House, briefing reporters ahead of Netanyahu visit, says goal for Israel-Palestinian talks is peace, not necessarily 2-state solution.

Let's see where this leads to....but anyone thinking there isn't going to be a serious investigation involving RUS-Trump ties is mistaken.

The Spectator Index @spectatorindex

BREAKING: US intel intercepted Trump campaign aides communicating with senior Russian intelligence officers, according to four US officials

While not clear what he said - FBI now adds that investigators "believed that Mr. Flynn was not entirely forthcoming, the officials said."

zerohedge @zerohedge

Mike Flynn May Face Felony Charges For Lying To The FBI http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-14/mike-flynn-may-face-felony-charges-lying-fbi …

Unanswered questions for now...

Sarah Posner @sarahposner

The Questionable Account of What Michael Flynn Told the White House http://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/the-questionable-account-of-what-michael-flynn-told-the-white-house … via @RyanLizza 

Omarosa confronted April Ryan & said W.H had a collection of dossiers (on her and other journalists.)

The Hill @thehill

Spicer: White House "absolutely not" keeping "dossiers" on reporters http://hill.cm/dD2J38L  

Kellyanne's "own goal" comment becoming problematic...

AJ+ @ajplus

BREAKING: U.S. Office of Govt Ethics says Kellyanne Conway violated Standards of Conduct, and "disciplinary action" is warranted. 

‏@AllisonKSommer

@lrozen Israeli TV  said Bibi delegation shocked after Flynn and counterpart went over meeting, said "see you tomorrow" and then - boom

Looks like it's possible more shoes may fall from the sky involving NSC..

Miriam Elder @MiriamElder

WH denying chatter that Flynn deputy KT McFarland will also be leaving https://www.buzzfeed.com/hayesbrown/more-trump-aides-will-leave-with-michael-flynn-source-says …

‏@tarapalmeri

.@PressSec: president was informed of this & he asked WH counsel to review if there was a legal issue, Flynn resignation "matter of trust"

‏@tarapalmeri

.@PressSec: "It was an evolving and eroding process" that happened between 4p and 8pm after @KellyannePolls said he was "confident" in Flynn

Is today February 14th or April 1st ? Spicer must had done some "spice" , before today's presser...

Livesquawk @Livesquawk

WH: Trump expects Russia to return Crimea to Ukraine

Add an additional complication , to the full plate of complications for the White House.

CNBC Now @CNBCnow

BREAKING: Russia has secretly deployed a cruise missile that violates an arms treaty - NYT http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/14/russia-has-secretly-deployed-a-cruise-missile-that-violates-an-arms-treaty-nyt-report.html …

Various key GOP Senators are calling for an investigation into Trump-Russia connections & want Flynn's testimony.

CNN @CNN

BREAKING: GOP senators call for investigation into connections between Trump and Russia, want Flynn to testify http://cnn.it/2lGWYnO  

‏@thehill

JUST IN: Intelligence Committee won’t investigate Flynn, but will investigate leaks http://hill.cm/8hIjBFH 

Enemies of Chief of Staff Priebus bring out the sharp knives , emboldened by ouster of NSC Chief Flynn.

Tara Palmeri @tarapalmeri

KNIVES: As Flynn Resigns, Priebus Future In Doubt As Trump Allies Circulate Chief of Staff List http://bit.ly/2kOUdPs  @BreitbartNews

McCain wishes Flynn all the best in future endeavors. Miller & Bannon in spotlight now. DoD Head Mattis supported.

John McCain @SenJohnMcCain

Read my full statement on National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's resignation here → http://bit.ly/2lfI9Ym 

Harward seems to be getting a lot of attention today..

Washington Post @washingtonpost

A former deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command emerges as front-runner to replace Michael Flynn http://wapo.st/2lFSX2M 

Europe.....

‏@alwasatengnews

Tunisian PM Chahed to Angela Merkel: #Tunisia will not establish refugee camps.. solution must be reached w/ #Libya
http://alwasat.ly/ar/news/libya/133033/ …

‏@EuropeElects

France, Ifop poll:

Le Pen (FN-ENF): 26%
Macron (EM-NI) 20%
Fillon (LR-EPP): 19% ↑
Hamon (PS-S&D) 15%
Mélenchon... http://fb.me/1SVL5CYfe 

‏@thespainreport

Despite what you're finding in Google, there's no specific jihadi threat against Spain today, says the government.
https://www.thespainreport.com/articles/1017-170214202149-spain-denies-british-tabloid-reports-of-imminent-islamic-state-terror-attacks-on-tourist-beaches …

‏@Rational_Times

Fillon Grapples With Party Rebels in Tightening French Election https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-02-14/fillon-grapples-with-party-rebels-in-tightening-french-election … #nln

‏@offishall_Maak

France: Candidate Fillon's spokesman under tax fraud probe: Conservative Francois Fillon's… 

‏@business

Fillon grapples with resistance to his candidacy within his own party http://bloom.bg/2l54NAe 

Hahaha ! Pigs will fly first before Moscow "returns" Crimea to Ukraine...

RT @RT_com

MORE: '#Trump has been tough on #Russia and expects Moscow to “return” the #Crimea peninsula to Ukraine' - #Spicer http://on.rt.com/835u  

Greek Jan surplus reaches EUR 1 bn, ordinary budget net rev 4.041bn EUR (target 3.716bn)

‏@MacroPolis_gr

#Greece Jan budget prim surplus at €1.01 bln, €342 mln above target. Budget deficit at €832 mln, €303 mln better than target (MoF) #economy

Seemed clear that completing the review by February 20th , was a shot in the dark , from the dark side of the moon.

Naftemporiki English @naftemporiki_en

#Dijsselbloem: No review by Feb. 20; #IMF participation important to #Greek #bailout http://go.naft.gr/wjZx06 

‏@zerohedge

EUROGROUP'S DIJSSELBLOEM: IMF INVOLVEMENT REMAINS ESSENTIAL FOR GREECE PROGRAMME TO CONTINUE

Not the time to pile additional austerity on Greece..

Livesquawk @Livesquawk

Greek GDP (QoQ) Q4 P: -0.4% (est 0.4% ; prev 0.80%)
-GDP NSA (YoY) Q4 P: 0.2% (prev 1.60% )

‏@Landonthomasjr

Weidmann rips Brussels: give "fiscal surveillance to an independent authority instead of the Commission".

‏@Landonthomasjr

1. Feisty speech by ECB's Weidmann. Lashes out at Trump/IMF for pushing "debt fueled gvt. spending" policies. 
http://www.bis.org/review/r170214c.htm …

‏@Landonthomasjr

2. ECB's Weidmann admits political union in euro is a pipe dream 
http://www.bis.org/review/r170214c.htm …

‏@zerohedge

Fillon Says Dropping Out of Race Would Create Crisis: Figaro

‏@alterneconomics

EU's Moscovici- France Leaving Euro Would Be 'Suicide' - 14 Feb 17  | Gazunda https://alternativeeconomics.co/tubeline/view/drvDSQmygSQ …

‏@rolandmcs

This poll is broadly in line with others showing about half of Remain voters are lukewarm about the EU/status quo.

Roland Smith @rolandmcs

76% of Brits want to either exit EU or see EU power reduced; versus 24% who either want status quo ante or bigger EU power over UK [exc DKs] https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/status/831444696106930176 …

Petition rejected to cancel Trump visit by UK Gov't...

europanexus @europa_nexus

British government rejects petition to cancel Donald Trump state visit signed by 1.8 million people http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-state-visit-petition-uk-british-government-response-a7578856.html …

Odds & Ends.....

North Korea....

‏@SCMP_News

Female assassins ‘used chemical spray’ to kill Kim Jong-un’s half-brother in Malaysia http://buff.ly/2lNBTVi 

‏@Reuters

UPDATE: U.S. strongly believes that North Korean agents carried out killing of Kim Jong Un's half brother - U.S. government source

Two North Koreans operatives allegedly pulled off an apparent hit using poison.....

The Guardian @guardian

Kim Jong-un's half-brother reportedly killed in Malaysia http://trib.al/KLRmIhw 

Crazy morning news ( not confirmed ) Kim Jong - nam killed by one ( or two ) female assassins in Malaysia !

LIM Yun Suk @yunsukCNA

Yonhap says Kim Jong Nam, brother of #Kimjongun, has been assassinated in #Malaysia. He is the eldest son of  #DPRK ex-leader #Kimjongil. https://twitter.com/yonhaptweet/status/831461479421337600 …

Syria.....

‏@miladvisor

East #Aleppo CS #AlBab.SAA take control Bijan,Tall Bijan,Mashrafat from #ISIS.Turkish Army & FSA lost ~60% latest gains in SW Al Bab.

Turkish Euphrates Shield Operation at Al Bab needs SAA assistance. ..

Yusha Yuseef @MIG29_

Source in Shield Euphrates told #SOHR , we cant control Al-Bad Unless Syrian Army Advance and control Tadef and cut ISIS Supply South Bzaah

‏@SyriaDeeply

Syria news: Rebels reveal misgivings over Astana talks, al-Bab controlled by rebels says TUR & UN's aid access plea. http://newsdp.ly/2kP4Phv 

‏@russian_market

Russian Defense Ministry plans to spend 4.45m rubles ($77k) on 20,000 medals for participants in its military campaign in Syria - Bloomberg

‏@AFP

Turkey-backed Syrian rebels and Syria regime 'agree security line' in Al-Bab http://u.afp.com/4Ghw 

Turkey backed FSA seems well underway in taking Al Bab from ISIS..

Middle East Eye @MiddleEastEye

"Rebels backed by Turkey have now taken much of the Syrian town of al-Bab from Islamic State" http://ow.ly/wwEI308Znsu 

Libya.....

‏@tomfeneux

pt *They [Haftar, Sarraj, Saleh] agreed* in the meeting in Cairo for parliamentary and presidential elections latest in February 2018.

‏@tomfeneux

Statement regarding the meeting in Cairo *to resolve* the Libyan conflicts. Haftar refused to meet Sarraj during these two days.

قناة ليبيا @LibyasChannel

بيان جلسات القاهرة 