Wednesday's News Links

[Reuters] Stocks subdued due to lack of fresh catalysts

[Reuters] U.S. trade deficit jumps to 10-year high in 2018

[AP] US budget deficit up 77 percent so far this budget year

[AP] Survey: US businesses added a solid 183,000 jobs last month

[AP] Why a meaningful US-China trade deal could be hard to reach

[CNBC] Weekly mortgage applications fall, but hint at who is buying homes today

[Bloomberg] Trump Pushes for China Deal in Hope of Fueling Market Rally, Sources Say

[Bloomberg] China Won't Make Big Concessions on Trade Deal, Ex-Minister Says

[Reuters] Australian economy nearly stalls in fourth quarter, local dollar skids

[Reuters] Reflationary BOJ board member calls for more stimulus if economy sinks

[Reuters] Italy plans to join China's Belt and Road Initiative: FT

[WSJ] U.S. Posts Record Annual Trade Deficit

[WSJ] Wall Street to Tamp Down on Default Insurance Bets

[WSJ] Fed Official Monitoring Corporate Debt Levels for Potential Trouble

[FT] Will the Fed be there if markets cry out for another quick fix?

[FT] China’s property developers binge on record dollar debt

[FT] Markets fret over currencies going bump in the night

[FT] Venezuela's long and winding road to debt restructuring

Tuesday Evening Links

[Reuters] Wall Street ekes out gains after retail earnings; trade in focus

[AP] US service firms grew at fastest pace since fall 2018

[Reuters] U.S. government posts $9 billion surplus in January

[Reuters] For Fed, few reasons to end 'patient' stance on rates

[Bloomberg] Central Banks’ ‘Embrace’ of Markets May Be Complicating Policy

[Bloomberg] Stock Crowding Risk Is Back With Everyone Buying the Same Thing

[Bloomberg] China Sees Tough Battle in Boosting Growth Without Debt Blowout

[Bloomberg] Larry Summers Slams MMT as ‘Fallacious’

[WSJ] Beijing Drops Contentious ‘Made in China 2025’ Slogan, But Policy Remains