Global Trade   Tariff News confirmed that a “Phase One” deal will be signed January 15th in the US. In short, the deal agreed for the US to halve 15% duties on $120 billion of imports while still maintaining a 25% levy on $250 billion of Chinese goods. Trump also…

Comment on the Deaths   of General Suleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force who was in charge of external operations (essentially supporting Shi’a terror and paramilitary groups outside Iran) and his number two militia commander in Iraq, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (who directed terror and combat operations against US forces…

During the month of Decemeber, the top 3 performing sectors were: S&P GSCI (6.99%), Livestock (6.73%) and the Metals (5.39%). Commodity markets ended the year strong as hogs 15.16%, soybean oil 13.38% and coffee 9.41% led the way. The bottom 3 sectors were: Interest Rates (-0.79%), Barclays CTA Index (0.03%)…

North America   Q3 US Growth Again Revised Higher (+2.1% versus +1.9%) on higher inventories, with other changes insignificant and offsetting. Payrolls crushed glum predictions, growing at +266,000 for November with a positive revision for October.  The ending of the GM strike (41,300 workers) which depressed last month’s number boosted…