United States

With the US stock market likely to continue its levitation today, it means that by close of trading, the S&P500 will be above 2,400, the same as Goldman's year end price target, and 100 points away from Bank of America's "euphoric blow off top" destination, which is also known as Michael Hartnett's Icarus Trade. In a note released overnight, Hartnett confirms that he is "sticking with our “Icarus Trade” targets: SPX 2500, GT30 3.5%, DXY 110, oil $70/b", even as he admits that the euphoria level in stocks is unprecedented:

Trump Avoid Debt Crisis ? "Extremely Unlikely" says Rickards

The upcoming March 15 U.S. debt ceiling deadline is something that is being largely ignored by markets and most media for now. Despite it being just 9 trading days away. This will change in the coming days and is one of the many reasons why we are bullish on gold.

Source: CNN

Via George Friedman and Jacob Shapiro of MauldinEconomics.com,

Via Ted Galen Carpenter of The Strategic Culture Foundation,

President Trump has confirmed that he is officially reviewing the United States’ participation in the “corrupt” U.N. Human Rights Council.  The Trump administration warned on Wednesday that it would look seriously at whether it is in the interests of the United States to continue dealing with an international body who seems to be “obsessed with Israel.” Erin Barlacy, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, blasted the Council in Switzerland earlier this week, saying that the U.S. was reconsidering its relationship with the organization.