Many people don’t know that the bottom of their shoes can contain harmful bacteria that could become life threatening. The bacteria are called ‘Clostridium difficile’ – named that way due to the ‘difficult’ nature of treatment. The Remedist reports: We want to keep the interior of our house clean to prevent diseases. However, we should also be wary of the germs that are found just outside our homes. In fact, a recent study conducted by scientists from the University of Houston found that 2 out of 5 doorsteps contain the bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).

Thousands of Junior doctors took to more than 160 picket lines across England on Wednesday to reject a new contract that the health secretary wants to impose on them. NHS Junior doctors are asking for a better deal for themselves, their patients, the NHS and the UK. The Daily Express reports: It is the second strike this year and doctors told Express.co.uk the public are only getting more onboard with their fight as time goes on. Doctors say the contract will cut their overall pay while forcing them to work longer hours which they fear will put patients’ safety at risk.

It appears by the total lack of coverage that the utter collapse of Europe's banking system is entirely irrelevant to the "fortress-like" balance sheets of US banks... but it is not. Once again today, US financials saw bonds dumped across the senior and subordinated segments...

...and while US financial stocks have fallen hard year-to-date, if credit is right - and it usually is on a cyclical basis - US bank stocks have a long way to go (as believe in book values is battered).

Paul Waldman comments on Rubio’s predicament:

Marco Rubio is in serious trouble, so he’s now attacking Donald Trump, something he hasn’t been as eager to do before. While it may produce a return slap from the Republican front-runner, it probably won’t be enough to shift the discussion around Rubio, who is now learning a very hard lesson: Live by the media’s favor, die by the media’s disfavor.

After yesterday's strong 10Y auction few were expecting ugliness in today's final for this week 30Y issuance: after all with markets crashing, the flight to safety and duration surely would mean strong demand for the long-end of the curve.  Only that wasn't the case.