Internet security software firms believe that last month’s cyber attack on a Ukrainian power plant, was the first time a malicious software had been traced to a power outage. The cyber attack on Ukrainian power companies resulted in an electricity blackout for tens of thousands of homes, and is more widespread than previously thought, according to software firm ESET. Engineering & Technology reports: Prykarpattyaoblenergo, a power company in Western Ukraine, reported an outage on 23 December that affected the nearby area including regional capital Ivano-Frankivsk.

The US-NATO military alliance ravaged Libya in 2011. North Africa’s most developed country was left in complete political anarchy, with a destroyed economy and a war torn society. The country remains chaotic and it’s oil fields, which were controlled by the country’s National Oil Company, have been under constant threat from extremist groups and militias….and now of course they are threatened by ISIS Just this week, ISIS fighters tried to enter Libya’s oil port of Sidra.

Everyone knows the world's foremost Wall Street meteorologist, and sometime Deutsche Bank economist, Joe LaVorgna.

For those who are unfamiliar, Joe is the person who in 2014 blamed every. single. negative. data point on the weather.

Joe is also the economist who famously lost a forecasting face-off with Groundhog Phil.

But most notably, Joe is Wall Street's biggest permabull.

Or was.

Submitted by Lance Roberts via RealInvestmentAdvice.com,

In the last “Technical Update” I discussed the outlook for 2016 (you can also get the full version here) and the risks that lay ahead as we approach the end of the first half of the full market cycle.

On Monday, the Riksbank said it would “instantly intervene” in the FX market in the event ongoing krona strength ends up imperiling Sweden’s inflation target.