Asia

How things change in crypto - in January 2017, before the crackdown by the authorities, China accounted for nearly 100% of bitcoin trading...

In the “golden era” of Chinese crypto trading, mainland operators built up considerable expertise before they were forced out of business. Some of those operators of Chinese exchanges are setting up again in “friendlier” jurisdictions around Asia, as Bloomberg reports, and their aspirations are global.

Update (0920ET): A Spanish government spokesman has responded to Puigdemont's address, saying that "Spain will not comment on comments by Puigdemont who is out of a job."

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As we detailed earlier, in a pre-record message this morning, Catalan separtist leader Carles Puigdemont urged Catalans to peacefully oppose Spain's formal takeover of the region's affairs.

Authored by Patrick Buchanan via Buchanan.org,

“More is now required of us than to put down our thoughts in writing,” declaimed Jeff Flake in his oration against President Trump, just before he announced he will be quitting the Senate.

Though he had lifted the title of his August anti-Trump polemic, “Conscience of a Conservative,” from Barry Goldwater, Jeff Flake is no Barry Goldwater.

• U.S. Economy Expected to Show Momentum, Despite Storms (WSJ)
• As Trump tax comes to floor, failure could spell stocks selloff (Reuters)
• Washington’s Biggest Mystery: What’s in the Republican Tax Plan? (BBG)
• Spain set to impose direct rule in Catalonia as crisis spirals (Reuters)
• Catalans Send Emissary to Madrid to Plead for a Deal (BBG)
• Catalan Leader Runs Out of Options as Streets Demand Secession (BBG)
• Trump releases some JFK files, blocks others under pressure (Reuters)

US equity futures are higher, boosted by a bevy of better than expected earnings out of tech giants Amazon, Intel and Microsoft as Asian stocks and European shares climb amid the dovish sentiment unleashed from Thursday’s ECB update.