Wednesday's News Links

[Reuters] U.S.-China trade hopes lift world stocks, oil soars

[Reuters] Oil rises 2 percent on U.S.-China trade talk optimism

[Reuters] U.S.-China trade talks conclude as hopes of a deal build

[Reuters] Chinese state media says any U.S.-China trade agreement must involve 'give and take'

[CNBC] Fitch warns of possible cut to US triple-A rating if shutdown continues

[Reuters] Bostic: Fed needs to be patient, seek 'greater clarity' on economic risks

[CNBC] Sharp drop in rates sparks 23.5% spike in weekly mortgage applications after unusually weak holidays

[BBC] China car sales fall for the first time in 20 years

[Reuters] China plans 2019 fiscal deficit target of 2.8 pct of GDP -Bloomberg

[AP] US consumer borrowing growth up $22.1 billion in November

[NYT] U.S.-China Trade Talks End. Now High-Level Talks Can Begin.

[WSJ] Computer Models to Investors: Short Everything

[WSJ] Fed Meeting Minutes Will Show How Officials Judged Economic Risks

[WSJ] Riches to Rags: Swiss Central Bank Swings from Record Profit to Large Loss

[FT] Volatility: how ‘algos’ changed the rhythm of the market

[Bloomberg] Trump Wants Trade Deal With China to Boost Stocks, Sources Say

[Bloomberg] Weakest Treasuries Demand Since 2008 Sends Bond-Market Warning

Tuesday Evening Links

[Reuters] Apple, Facebook propel Wall Street to three-week peak

[Reuters] U.S. oil prices rise above $50 on trade talk hopes

[Reuters] Exclusive: New documents link Huawei to suspected front companies in Iran, Syria

[Reuters] Gundlach on 2019: Rising yields to hit stocks, trouble in bonds and a possible bitcoin bounce

[CNBC] Hedge funds squeak by S&P 500, topping the benchmark for the first time in a decade

[Reuters] World Bank sees global growth slowing in 2019

[CNBC] Chinese buyers expand their reach in the US housing market as the middle class gets in on the act

[NYT] Federal Deficit Climbs Again, Putting It on Track for $1 Trillion This Year

[WSJ] U.S., China Negotiators Narrow Differences on Trade

[WSJ] Volatility Signal Flashes Red, Even as Stocks Rebound

[FT] Italy’s 2019 financing challenge — in charts

[FT] Hedge funds suffer worst year since 2011

[Bloomberg] Realtors Say the Government Shutdown Is Sinking Home Sales

[Bloomberg] Hedge Funds Lost Almost 6% Last Year as Markets Roiled Managers