North America

In an overnight session dominated by the latest political developments out of the US where Hillary Clinton officially claimed the democratic nomination, the financial newsflow focused on China's trade data, where exports fell 4.1% from a year earlier, in line with expectations, but imports dropped 0.4% from a year earlier, the smallest decline since they turned negative in November 2014, likely reflecting higher commodities prices but really driven by "imports" from Hong Kong which rose to $2.48b, the highest since at least 1999; and a 243% y/y surge in dollar term, also a historical high.

As you may have read here, I was at a conference in Baltimore over the weekend. While in the city, I met a woman who identified herself as a reader of this blog. She said, “I know people accuse you of being alarmist all the time, but let me tell you that they aren’t raising teenagers in this culture.”

We showed you the "bored" Chinese workers who traded commodity futures for excitement - Now, it's time to meet North America's oil day-traders... moms-and millenials.

The recent volatility in crude oil has gotten the attention of people who do not list trading as their day job, but are randomly attempting to day trade oil anyway the WSJ reports.

Take for example Erika Cajic, a 45-year old full-time parent who took a shot at trading oil via UWTI.

• Wall Street Crime: 7 Years, 156 Cases and Few Convictions (WSJ)
• Japan's Abe points to 2008 crisis as G7 leaders debate global risk (Reuters)
• Brent Crude Rises Above $50 a Barrel (WSJ)
• New York financial regulator gearing up to probe online lenders (Reuters)
• At Swinging Wall Street Parties, the Feds Are Now on the Prowl (BBG)
• Do U.S. Killings of Militant Leaders Work? (WSJ)
• Fed's Bullard: global central bank policy divergence has been priced in (Reuters)
• Insurers Seek Big Premium Boosts (WSJ)

Submitted by Paul Rosenberg via FreemansPerspective.com,

It’s really just a matter of time; the working man’s deal with his overseers is half dead already. But there’s still inertia in the system, and even the losers are keeping the faith. Hope dies slowly, after all.