16Dec2021 Market Close: Wall Street Falls Sharply – Invest If You Have The B***s!

Three Risks All Investors Need To Consider In 2022

With the current trading year drawing to a close, experts are already making forecasts about the coming year largely based on the trends that have defined the current year. However, unlike in previous years, analysts are acutely aware that the Covid years have been littered with predictions that never panned out, with the pandemic triggering some serious market idiosyncrasies. For starters, Goldman Sachs points out that equity market breadth has narrowed sharply, with just five stocks accounting for 51% of the S&P 500s return since the

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Three-Risks-All-Investors-Need-To-Consider-In-2022.html

Europe’s Energy Crisis Just Got Worse

top of an ongoing natural gas crunch, Europe faces the winter season with reduced nuclear output in France, exacerbating the energy crisis and leaving large parts of the continent praying for a milder winter. Frances EDF stopped on Thursday two nuclear power plants after finding a fault at one during routine maintenance. This brings the total number of nuclear plants out of operation currently at four, which account for 13 percent of the current power availability in France, a major electricity exporter to neighboring countries and to

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Europes-Energy-Crisis-Just-Got-Worse.html

Green Finance Is Fueling The ESG Boom

In a year in which significant political efforts have been made to speed up the energy transition, 2021 has also been record-breaking for green finance, as governments, international institutions, and lenders alike seek to support the shift towards renewables. Mirroring developments that are expected to see new renewable energy generation capacity reach an all-time annual high of 290 GW this year, the issuance of green bonds financial instruments that fund environmentally sustainable projects is forecast to reach a record-breaking

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Green-Finance-Is-Fueling-The-ESG-Boom.html

Commodity ETFs See Massive Inflows As Inflation Fears Grow

You cannot turn on the TV or read a news feed without hearing dire warnings of surging inflation. The U.S. Consumer Price Index rose 6.8% year on year in November, the fastest pace since 1982. Meanwhile, while Eurozone inflation climbed to a record 4.9%. More than three-quarters of countries analyzed by Pew Research had higher inflation in the third quarter of 2021 than in the same period in 2019, the Financial Times reported. Inflation worries push investors toward government bonds Not surprisingly, investors are positioning themselves for higher

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Commodity-ETFs-See-Massive-Inflows-As-Inflation-Fears-Grow.html

How Will Shells New Home Impact Its Share Price?

Oil supermajor Shell is facing some big changes in its future as stakeholders approve the long-talked-about move from the Netherlands to the U.K. This follows months of controversy over its scheduled North Sea Cambo oilfield project, resulting in Shells withdrawal from the development, and its huge drive to invest in renewables over the next decade. These are just a few of the major shifts in Shells energy strategy that suggest the company will undergo a substantial transition in the coming years.Last week, 99.8 percent of Royal

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/How-Will-Shells-New-Home-Impact-Its-Share-Price.html

Tesla Looks To Silence Critics In China

It looks as though Tesla is leaning on China’s judicial system to try and hamper complaints about its brand and bad press in the country. Tesla has filed “defamation claims against at least two Chinese citizens who raised concerns about the safety and quality of its vehicles,” according to a new report by Bloomberg. The company is claiming that the customers “groundlessly damaged its reputation” and is asking for “steep compensation” as a result. The company’s lawyers are also reportedly threatening social media personalities who have

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Tesla-Looks-To-Silence-Critics-In-China.html

Fauci says omicron will soon become dominant Covid variant in U.S., urges people to get vaccines and boosters

As omicron spreads, Dr. Anthony Fauci said “things could get really bad, particularly for the unvaccinated.”

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/fauci-says-omicron-will-become-dominant-covid-variant-soon-urges-booster-shots.html

Millennial millionaires plan to add more crypto in 2022, CNBC Millionaire Survey finds

Fully 83% of millennial millionaires own cryptocurrencies, according to the CNBC Millionaire Survey.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/millennial-millionaires-plan-to-add-more-crypto-in-2022.html

McDonald’s settles racial discrimination lawsuit with former MLB player Herb Washington

Washington, the chain’s largest Black franchisee in the U.S. at one point, operated 14 McDonald’s restaurants at the time he filed his lawsuit.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/mcdonalds-settles-discrimination-lawsuit-with-herb-washington.html

Covid surge is gripping New York City ahead of the holidays: ‘We’ve never seen this before’

New York City’s test positivity rate doubled in just three days, Dr. Jay Varma, a top health advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio, tweeted Thursday.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/new-york-city-is-seeing-a-covid-surge-ahead-of-the-holidays-weve-never-seen-this-before.html

Cramer’s Investing Club: We’re exiting this beauty stock with a nice return

As much as we still consider EL to be a great reopening play, we want to be a little more careful here due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/cramers-investing-club-were-exiting-this-beauty-stock-with-a-nice-return.html

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Adobe, Airbnb, AT&T, Robinhood, Novartis and more

These are the stocks posting the largest moves in midday trading.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-adobe-att-robinhood-more.html

Jeff Garlin exits ‘The Goldbergs’ after HR investigation into ‘abusive’ on-set behavior

Jeff Garlin will not return to “The Goldbergs” after a series of misconduct allegations led to a network investigation into the actor’s behavior on set.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/jeff-garlin-exits-the-goldbergs-after-investigation-into-on-set-behavior.html

Powerball’s jackpot is $353 million and Mega Millions is at $160 million. Here’s how winners would be taxed

After no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Wednesday in Powerball, the jackpot has jumped to $353 million for Saturday night’s drawing.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/powerballs-jackpot-is-353-million-mega-millions-is-at-160-million.html

Omicron replicates 70 times faster than delta in airways, but lung infection appears less severe, study says

Omicron’s rapid replication in the airway may explain why it transmits faster than previous variants of the virus.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/omicron-lung-infection-less-severe-replicates-faster-than-delta-in-human-airways-study.html

‘In the end, all hydrogen needs to be green’: CEO of German energy giant RWE

Markus Krebber made his comments during an interview with CNBC this week.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/in-the-end-all-hydrogen-needs-to-be-green-ceo-of-energy-giant-rwe.html

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is ’emotionally riveting,’ ‘a celebration of Spidey fandom,’ critics say

Critics have reacted favorably to “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” as the film currently holds a 95% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 152 reviews.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/spider-man-no-way-home-reviews-what-critics-think-of-new-mcu-film.html

Dr. Eric Topol says ‘we’re sitting ducks for this next wave’ of Covid from omicron variant

“We’re lagging behind what we need to get out to the American public” in terms of boosters and what the U.S. considers fully vaccinated, Topol told CNBC.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/dr-eric-topol-says-were-sitting-ducks-for-this-next-wave-of-covid-from-omicron-variant.html

How bad is inflation? Even millionaires are worried about it.

For the wealthy and affluent, inflation brings the threat of higher interest rates, which increases the cost of borrowing and can put pressure on asset values.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/cnbc-millionaire-survey-inflation-is-a-top-economic-concern.html

UK Jet Shoots Down ‘Iranian’ Drone Threatening US Base In Syria

UK Jet Shoots Down ‘Iranian’ Drone Threatening US Base In SyriaA new attack on a remote US military base in Syria is being reported Thursday. According to NBC, US and allied forces shot down a small drone amid the fresh attack. This follows a similar and larger scale attack weeks ago that involved drones and rocket fire from an unknown attacker.

US Central Command spokesman Capt. Bill Urban told reporters on Thursday: “Two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) were tracked entering the Al-Tanf Garrison Deconfliction Zone on the evening of December 14th. As one of the UAS continued its course deeper into the Al-Tanf Deconfliction Zone, it was assessed as demonstrating hostile intent and was shot down.”

US military image, via The National InterestThere was another drone in the area hovering near the Tanf garrison wh …

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/uk-jet-shoots-down-iranian-drone-threatening-us-base-syria

The Unraveling

The UnravelingAuthored by Sven Henrich via NorthmanTrader.com,

Investors are ignoring two big elephants in the room. While we see yet again a positive reaction to the latest Fed meeting with new all time highs in the $ES futures contract things are far from well, indeed things have already been unraveling beneath the surface for a while. A potential Santa rally notwithstanding storm clouds are not only gathering but they are already all around us. I suggest paying close attention, despite the expected upcoming holiday lull.

First off and most importantly: The Fed was NOT hawkish yesterday despite what you hear in the media.

Context: For months on end they insisted that inflation was transitory, then as inflation kept surprising them to the upside they finally retired it and yesterday Powell said that now risk is that inflation is becoming persistent. The policy response to 6.7% CPI and 9.6% PPI? Absolutely nothing in the here and now. In December they are continuing a …

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/unraveling

“Holy Cow!!” – Another Tornado Outbreak Rips Through Midwest

“Holy Cow!!” – Another Tornado Outbreak Rips Through MidwestHundreds of thousands of customers across the Central US are without power Thursday morning after a powerful storm rolled across the Great Plains, spawning nearly two dozen tornados. This comes less than a week after a twister outbreak devastated towns across the South.

The storm generated about 21 tornados across Nebraska and Iowa on Wednesday evening, according to NYTimes.

The National Weather Service (NWS) highlighted areas with the strongest wind gusts; some areas clocked in around 100 mph.

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/weather/holy-cow-tornado-outbreak-rips-through-midwest

Fed Pivot Means Judgment Day For 3,200 Corporate Zombies

Fed Pivot Means Judgment Day For 3,200 Corporate ZombiesBy Kyoungwha Kim, Bloomberg Markets Live analyst and commentator

A day of reckoning is coming for zombie borrowers as the lower-for-longer rate environment that fed them on cheap credit is ending.

In a drastic policy shift, the Fed said it will double the pace of its bond tapering to begin raising rates next year. This looks to worsen liquidity condition in the Treasury market, piling pressure on junk yield spreads to widen.

The U.S. Govt Securities Liquidity Index, which measures in real time the yield dispersion of Treasuries relative to off-the-run bonds, has risen, showing tighter liquidity is leading to more frequent price dislocations. The U.S. junk yield spread tends to move in tandem. While that shift has already started, there may be a gap to close.

Troubles are ahead for companies with shaky finances. Out of 25,518 worldwide companies that were able to meet interest payments from income in 2019, more than 3,200 saw an average interest coverage ratio of …

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fed-pivot-means-judgment-day-3200-corporate-zombies

Ex-McDonald’s boss to repay $105m over staff relationships

The fast food chain claimed that Steve Easterbrook had lied about three sexual relationships with employees.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59684996?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Chancellor Rishi Sunak to return from US trip early over Covid concerns

Rishi Sunak faced accusations of being “missing in action” as businesses call for help with crisis.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59686356?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Interest rates rise for first time in three years

Policymakers increase rates from their historic low despite fears that Omicron could slow the economy.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59682521?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Hard assets or crypto assets: Here’s how you should allocate you money

Recently, Gita Gopinath, the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), surprised many when she said emerging economies should regulate cryptocurrencies instead of banning them. Gopinath, who will take over as the first deputy managing director of IMF on January 21, called for an urgent global policy on the issue.

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/cryptocurrency/hard-assets-or-crypto-asset-heres-how-you-should-allocate-you-money/articleshow/88322879.cms

Fed’s lift-off guidance shallow, trajectory may need to be recalibrated

This shift in stance by the Fed from its earlier complacency is rooted in the change in its description of inflation from transitory to persistent and widespread. The spurt in core inflation to nearly 5% (core CPI) along with rapid wage growth (10% YoY in Oct’21) is creating a risk of inflation getting entrenched, according to the FOMC statement.

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/feds-lift-off-guidance-shallow-trajectory-may-need-to-be-recalibrated/articleshow/88319461.cms

Tech View: Nifty50 likely to trade in 17,170-400 range over few sessions

“Nifty50 has shifted below the middle Bollinger Band formation and the 50-day SMA, which indicate bearish sentiment. On an hourly chart, the index is trading with lower high-lows formation that also points toward weakness. However, the index has a good support at around 17,200 and we are witnessing buying at those levels,” Sachin Gupta AVP for Research at Choice Broking.

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/tech-view-nifty50-likely-to-trade-in-17170-400-range-over-few-sessions/articleshow/88320177.cms

Economic Report: New-home construction surges higher amid higher lumber prices — in all but one region of the U.S.

Home builders are maintaining a steady pace of construction, despite multiple headwinds in terms of labor and material shortages.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C05575-04D4-B545-77F6-31335DCFD0A5%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1

: These 10 ‘hidden gem’ housing markets are poised for major growth in 2022, Realtors predict

Home-price appreciation is expected to slow next year — but some markets will continue to stand out.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C05575-04D4-B545-77F3-538DE7F78EE3%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1

: Interest rates are rising — but the Fed’s actions could make it easier to get a mortgage

As refinancing demand dissipates, mortgage lenders will be forced to compete for home buyers’ business.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C05575-04D4-B545-77F7-6A4B232606B0%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1