F-35

• Trump wins Electoral College vote; a few electors break ranks (Reuters)
• European Stocks Head for a One-Year High (BBG)
• Japan's Central Bank Keeps Policy Unchanged, Upgrades Economic Outlook (BBG)
• Russia and Turkey vow to keep detente on track after murder (FT)
• The Political Implications of Events in Ankara and Berlin (BBG)
• Trump condemns Berlin attack, says things 'only getting worse' (Reuters)
• Merkel: "No Doubt Berlin Crash Was a Terror Attack" (BBG)
• Gunman in Zurich mosque shooting is dead (Reuters)

• Trump Picks Exxon Chief for State Amid Concerns (Reuters)
• Buoyant Markets Pose New Challenge for the Fed (WSJ)
• Tweeter-in-Chief Trump Faces Test After Yellen’s Rate Decision (BBG)
• Trump Dissing Daily Intelligence Briefing Worsens Rift With CIA (BBG)
• SWIFT confirms new cyber thefts, hacking tactics (Reuters)
• UniCredit share issue lifts banks before Fed meeting (Reuters)
• Senate Republican leader backs investigation into Russian hacking (Reuters)

In response to president-elect Trump's tweet over "out of control costs", Lockheed Martin has officially responded:

"This is an amazing day for the Israeli people. It's exciting to bring this airplane and its capabilities to the country.

 

We welcome the opportunity to address any questions the president-elect has about the program. It's an amazing program. Lockheed Martin and its industry partners understand the importance of affordability for the F-35 program.

 

After running up dramatically post-Trump's victory, Lockheed Martin shares are tumbling again this morning after the president-elect tweeted, questioning the costs of the company's F-35...

The F-35 program and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2016

The reaction was a swift 3% plunge in the share price...

Submitted by Dmitry Orlov, The Saker, Victor Katsap and Evgenia Gurevich via PaulCraigRoberts.org,

Insouciant Americans do not even know what they should be worried about...

A Russian Warning