Asia

In his annual address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin struck an unusually conciliatory tone on Thursday, saying Moscow wanted to get on with the incoming U.S. administration and was looking to make friends not enemies: "We are ready to cooperate with the new U.S. administration. We have a shared responsibility to ensure international security."

"We don't want confrontation with anyone. We don't need it. We are not seeking and have never sought enemies. We need friends," Putin told Russia's political elite gathered in the Kremlin's grand hall.

European, Asian stocks rise as do S&P futures as OPEC ministers gathering in Vienna appeared to be set to announce a deal to cut oil production and prop up global prices. Oil has surged over 7% as a result, also pushing US TSY yields and the dollar higher.

With all eyes on Vienna, where optimism OPEC ministers will salvage a deal to cut production, oil has soared by over 6% reverberating through the financial markets, spurring oil’s biggest gain in two weeks and sending stocks of energy producers and currencies of commodity-exporting nations higher.

Submitted by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk.com,

Gallup’s Daily Obama Approval Rating poll shows Americans view president Obama consistently higher now than at any time since 2009.

His popularity is more of a reflection on Obama being a likable person, than having likable policies. It’s also a reflection on the extreme unpopularity of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Complete Failure

Likable or not, Obama’s legacy will be one of complete failure. Vox reports The whole Democratic Party is now a smoking pile of rubble.

The company reported an excellent quarter and the stock is higher by 6.5% early on. However, they issued a warning due to its flagship NYC store undergoing notable softness, thanks to all of the progressives protesting the democratically elected candidate for President of the United States, Donald J. Trump -- right next door at Trump Tower.

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