Business

On Monday, Trump pressed Japan’s Prime Minister and business leaders to reduce the $69 billion trade deficit. A couple of badly made jokes, awkward moments and an unfair singling out of the auto industry later, we expressed our scepticism that the Japanese would do anything after he left (see “Trump Says Trade With Japan Is Not Fair And Not Open – Awkward Moments Ensue” here).  Today Trump touched down in Beijing for two days of meetings, including eagerly awaited talks with China’s greatest leader since Mao, Xi Jinping.

This just might spoil what has so far been a strong year for Carl Icahn. Bloomberg is reporting that the FBI has issued subpoenas for information on Carl Icahn’s possible lobbying to change biofuel policy while serving as an informal adviser to President Donald Trump, according to regulatory filings.

Via Dana Lyons' Tumblr,

No 52-week high in the Nasdaq 100 has ever been accompanied by as few advancing stocks as today’s.

The USD price of Bitcoin just exploded higher - near $7900 - on heavy volume as CoinDesk reports The organizers of a controversial bitcoin scaling proposal are suspending an attempt to increase the block size by way of a software upgrade. Bitcoin is up over 10% today, now up over 650% YTD:

Yesterday, the dollar slumped and yields dropped after a WaPo report claimed that the corporate tax cut could - the core piece of GOP tax reform - would be delayed by up to a year, a clear indication that there may be irreconcilable differences in the Senate regarding tax reform. Then, moments ago, Axios confirmed as much, reporting that the Senate "won't release its version of the GOP tax bill tomorrow", citing a senior GOP aide. On Tuesday Mitch McConnell said that the bill would come out on Thursday.