Business

Following this morning's tweet, in which Trump said that he was meeting with top Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi to keep the government open, but because "they want illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked", he "doesn't see a deal", and which sent the T-Bill market turmoiling as mid-December government shutdown odds surged, moments ago the top two Democratic leaders in Congress pulled out "abruptly" (in AP's words) of the previously scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump.

Keeping a close eye on the ratio of Copper -vs.- Gold can be helpful in determining where interest rates are headed. If the ratio is heading lower (Copper weaker than Gold), often times interest rates will tend to fall. If the ratio is heading higher (Copper stronger than Gold), often times rates will head higher and can suggest the economy is strong and growing.

Below looks at the Doc Copper/Gold ratio over the past 10-years-

Authored by John Mauldin via MauldinEconomics.com,

Since the 2008 financial crisis, there’s been a growing number of ridiculous, inane, and otherwise nonsensical economic interventions from our central bankers that fill the daily economic headlines.

I have gone from the occasional smile to scratching my head now and then to "WTF" moments.

The Conference Board's survey of Americans' Consumer Confidence surged to its highest since November 2000 in November, with both current and furture expectations spiking.

In th epast 50 years, Americans have - apparently - seldom been more confident than they are now...

Does that sound right?

Additionally, confidence in a soaring stock market is back near record highs...

WTF!

While other 'soft' survey data has been disappointing recently, The Richmond Fed  Manufacturing Outlook did not... in fact, against expectations of a 14 print, following a 12 print in October, November printed 30! - 16 standard deviations above expectations.

This is an all-time record high for the survey...