Thursday's News Links

[Bloomberg] Dollar, Treasuries Decline as Stocks Edge Higher: Markets Wrap

[Reuters] Gold hits 1-month high as dollar weakens further

[Reuters] Oil prices near 2015 highs on tight market

[Bloomberg] Bitcoin Tumbles Over Exchange-Closure Fears

[Bloomberg] U.S. Merchandise Trade Gap Widens to Largest Since 2015

[Bloomberg] U.S. Renters Paid a Record High $485.6 Billion in 2017: Zillow

[Reuters] China's leaders fret over debts lurking in shadow banking system

[CNBC] The 'single most important' trade in 2018 could be a tug of war between the Fed and the market

[Bloomberg] It’s Been One of the Worst Years Ever for Billion-Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters

[Bloomberg] Japan Industrial Production, Retail Sales Rise in November

[Bloomberg] Steinhoff Downgraded Deeper Into Junk at Moody's as Risks Rise

[CNBC] It looks like the India-China rivalry is spreading to another front

[NYT] Once a Cash Cow, Venezuela’s Oil Company Now Verges on Collapse

[WSJ] The Growing Peril of Index Funds: Too Much Tech

[FT] Global M&A exceeds $3tn for fourth straight year

[WSJ] Tillerson Discusses Conflict Zones in Call With Russia

[WSJ] With the New Tax Law, CPAs Enjoy Sudden Popularity

[FT] Italy braces for election test

Wednesday Evening Links

[Bloomberg] U.S. Stocks Rise, Treasuries Gain as Dollar Falls: Markets Wrap

[Bloomberg] Flattening U.S. Yield Curve Nears Decade Lows in Final 2017 Push

[Reuters] U.S. holiday sales set to break records in surprise boon to retail

[CNBC] When the economic news is this good, history shows the gains are smaller for stocks

[Bloomberg] Five Key Challenges Xi Jinping Faces in 2018

[NYT] In a Complex Tax Bill, Let the Hunt for Loopholes Begin