For those stuck watching algos frontrun today's market paint drying, here is the full calendar of today's early market closures.

Floor Trade:

1. CME/CBOT — Equities - Early Close (1215CST), Interest Rates, FX, and Commodities - Early Close (1200CST)
2. NYMEX — Early close (1230CST)
3. COMEX — Early close (1130CST)
4. NYSE — Early Close (1300EST)

Electronic Trade:

• Global Stocks Take Breather After Oil-Fueled Rally (WSJ)
• Junk Investors Evade the Trade (WSJ)
• How the Third Avenue Fund Melted Down (WSJ)
• Oil Traders Set to Pounce as U.S. Prepares to Lift Export Ban (BBG)
• JPMorgan Says Japan Inc. Must Prepare for Yen Below 100 a Dollar (BBG)
• U.S. air strikes hit targets in embattled Afghan district (Reuters)
• Malls Reel as Web Roars With Holiday Shopping (WSJ)
• Assad Government Willing to Join Syria Peace Talks in Geneva (BBG)

After a furious three day "dash for trash", no volume, no breadth, commodity-driven rally, even Santa is now exhausted and overnight US equity index futures were little changed with European and Asian shares mixed. The dollar has declines as gold, silver gain, with WTI initially continuing its recent meteoric rise (up over 8% in the past three days, nearly hitting $38), only to reverse and give up all overnight gains moments ago.

Congress and the President have just caved in and gutted the Country of Origin Labeling Act (COOL) removing the requirement that meat must be labeled with its source.

The wars on terror and drugs create more terror and more drugs.