With December's seasonal shenanigans out of the way, and following 2 record-breaking weekly builds in gasoline stocks, with expectations of a 2.3mm barrel build API reported a large 4.6mm inventory build (double expectations) . Cushing inventories built 63k, rising for the 12th week in a row. Gasoline stocks rose once again (+4.7mm) and Distillates also (+1.5mm).

December is over...

Following crude's v-shaped recovery today, API's huge build sent WTI back lower...

Charts: Bloomberg

Vietnam is mourning an ancient turtle that had been revered as a symbol of auspiciousness and whose death has shocked the country. The giant turtle, known as Cu Rua (Great Grandfather), was venerated as a symbol of Vietnam’s independence and there are fears that his death bodes ill for the forthcoming communist leadership handover. Believed to be one of only four still living, the reptile best known as a Yangtze giant softshell turtle was found floating in the Hanoi lake where he lived. The cause of death is unclear.

Just when we thought the surreal story surrounding Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's second capture couldn't get any more bizarre, it does just that, but in an oddly satisfying way, one which ties the soon to be incarcerated criminal south of the border with a criminal located right inside Washington D.C., one who however will never be punished. According to the Hill, a .50-caliber rifle recovered from El Chapo's hideout was one of the firearms lost by the U.S. government's gun-smuggling operation Fast and Furious.

Bob Pisani nailed it today "I'm agnostic about whether to buy or sell today... but I'm not selling"...

Neverthelesss, the World entered a bear market today...

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy?

Source: Investors.com