10. Music: Come On, Come Over performed by Jaco Pastorius. The bass playing on this song is magnificent.
9. Cybersecurity: Prospect of quantum computing is making Central Banks nervous, quantum development will impact blockchain and make current payment systems vulnerable and perhaps obsolete. Post-quantum cryptography development is vital.
8. Frigid Weather: Tesla owners have dealt with battery power failures as winter temperatures have plummeted in Chicagoland and elsewhere. EV energy solutions need to improve.
7. China: Over the past 11 months FDI (foreign direct investment) has dropped more than 10% in the nation, an estimated short fall of 145.51 billion USD. China's Foreign Direct Investment release has seemingly been pushed off to next week. Shanghai Composite (SSE) near 2832.28.
6. Energy Sector: WTI Crude Oil still priced politely as 'interactions' with Houthis flare. Natural Gas values remain near lows while North America suffers from a deep freeze.
5. Risk Assessment: Iran and Pakistan, although expressing 'brotherly love' for each other, have exchanged missiles across their respective border aimed at extremists.
4. U.S Treasuries: Inversion has almost ended completely, 5-Year Notes up to 30-Year Bonds yields have returned to 'norms'.
3. Gold: Price of the precious metal near 2027.00 USD having bounced higher after challenging the 2000.00 vicinity on Wednesday.
2. Data: Consumer Sentiment reading via University of Michigan on the schedule today, this could provide impetus to markets that appear to be waiting for the next big push.
1. FX Volatility: USD strength has pushed the greenback towards important mid-term resistance in Forex as many day traders are likely still fighting the trend.