Wells Fargo

• Ukraine Shifts to Defense Against Russian Incursion (WSJ)
• U.S. forces carry out operation against al-Shabaab in Somalia (Reuters)
• Bond Markets Tilt Toward Frankfurt as Draghi Negates Fed (BBG)
• Another "unexpectedly" - Swiss Economy Unexpectedly Stalls as Euro Area Takes Toll (BBG)
• Japan's 'Abenomics' feared in trouble as challenges build (Reuters)
• Germany Imposes Nationwide Ban on Uber's Cab-Hailing Service (WSJ)
• Japan's 'forward guidance', the GPIF, has "already begun a highly anticipated portfolio reshuffle" (WSJ)
• Detroit Brings Bankruptcy Plan to Court With Billionaires (BBG)
• Burger King has maneuvered to cut U.S. tax bill for years (Reuters)

While weather may affect the economy, the recent contraction has little to do with winter’s bitter cold; the US economy is far too diverse and complex. Instead, we are witnessing the ongoing effects of failed monetary and fiscal policies. As the Wickersham Commission noted years ago, “These laws [of economics] cannot be destroyed by governments, but often in the course of human history governments have been destroyed by them.”

• Islamic State executes soldiers, takes hostages at Syria base (Reuters)
• Buffett Burger King Funds Flip Obama’s Inversion Calculus (BBG)
• Equities Reach Record $66 Trillion as S&P 500 Hits 2,000 (BBG)
• Central Banks Playing Own Version of Plaza-opoly With FX (BBG)
• Russia court closes McDonald's branch for 90 days (Reuters)
• Finland Says NATO an Option After Russia ‘Violates’ Border Laws (BBG)
• Netanyahu Hit With Domestic Criticism Over Gaza Truce (BBG)
• Biggest Danish Fund Readies for Rate Shock as Exit Narrows (BBG)
• Nonprofit Hospitals' Profits Fall (WSJ)

Thanks to buybacks, multiple expansion has been the driver of equity market strength as non-economic actors know one thing - buying stocks at record highs pays better than 'investing' in Capex or growth. However, the Treasury market's yield curve is sending a message loud and clear that multiple-expansion is due to end. As Wells Fargo's Gina Martin Adams notes, "Index P/E is likely to fall," as the spread between 10Y and 2Y yields compresses. Historical data shows the P/E ratio contracted in seven out of eight periods when the curve flattened since 1975. As Bloomberg adds, Martin Adams expects the S&P to close 2014 -7.5% from here at 1850 (tied with Deutsche's David Bianco for lowest prediction among 20 strategists).

• That will teach the UAE who's boss: U.S. Won’t Consult Syria on Militant Strikes: White House (BBG)
• Putin Set to Meet Poroshenko as Ukraine Tensions Escalate (BBG)... but the de-escalation algo?
• Tim Hortons’ Canadian Fans Squeamish of American Hookup (BBG)
• Israeli air strikes target more Gaza high-rises (Reuters)
• How Steve Ballmer Became a Rookie Basketball Mogul (WSJ)
• Buffett to Help Finance Burger King Tax-Saving Deal (BBG)
• U.S. Factories Keep Losing Ground to Global Rivals (WSJ)
• Boehner, Camp Profit From Corporate Bid to Avoid U.S. Tax (BBG)
• Experimental U.S. hypersonic weapon destroyed seconds after launch (Reuters)
• The Neo-Neocons (WSJ)

• FTW: Europe Stocks Rise as Data Signals Need for Stimulus (BBG)
• More de-escalation: Dozens die in Ukraine in street battles, Donetsk shelling (Reuters)
• Calm largely holds in Missouri after grand jury opens shooting investigation (Reuters)
• Attorney General Eric Holder Vows Thorough Probe of Ferguson Shooting (WSJ)
• World’s Biggest Wealth Fund Slows Emerging Market Investment (BBG)
• Market Chilly to Argentine Debt Proposal (WSJ)
• Israeli air strike kills three Hamas commanders in Gaza (Reuters)
• Retooled Hamas Bloodies Israel With Help From Hezbollah (BBG)
• Investors Pour Into Vanguard, Eschewing Stock Pickers (WSJ)
• Fed Debates Early Rate Increases (WSJ)

• Ferguson at Turning Point After Night of Relative Calm (BBG)
• Gaza war rages on, Hamas says Israel tried to kill its military chief (Reuters)
• Surge in Putin Patriotism Masks Pain of Sanctions (BBG)
• Bank of England splits over rate hike for first time in 3 years (Reuters)
• Putin Meeting Leaves Kiev With Tough Choices (WSJ)
• European Gas Reverses Biggest Drop Since 2009 on Ukraine (BBG)
• "Isolation"  Mongolia Seeks Economic Lifeline With Pivot to China, Russia (BBG)
• Uber Picks David Plouffe to Wage Regulatory Fight (NYT)
• China Levies Record Antitrust Fine on Japanese Firms (BBG)

• Barack Obama's 'vacation from hell' (Politico)
• Russian aid convoy checked; military vehicles mass near Ukraine (Reuters)
• Ukraine Says APCs Entered From Russia to Aid Insurgents (BBG)
• Islamic State Said to Challenge Al-Qaeda for Leadership (BBG)
• Missouri protests calmer after governor puts black police captain in charge (Reuters)
• Finally someone will prove the US is a pyramid scheme (in a 1000 page presentation): Ackman’s Pershing Square Sues U.S. Over Fannie, Freddie (BBG)
• Banks, Financial Firms Load Up on Cheap Debt (WSJ)
• Putin to Meet Finnish President as Threat of Cold War Grows (BBG)

The stories make you want to take all of your money out of the stock market and put it in your mattress!

In what is certainly a historic, and quite stunning, market first, not to mention prima facie evidence that Janet Yellen was right about the biotech (and not only) bubble, last week the equity markets experienced something that has not happened in decades: a biotech firm went public, traded for six days, only to announce Friday that it would void its IPO and won't issue shares after all, thanks to a key investor's failure to follow through on a commitment to buy stock. In other words, days after going public, yet another darling of the momo bubble mania du jour, decided to undo everything, and went back to being private (and soon: bankrupt).

Huh?

• Gunshots, tear gas in riots over shooting of black Missouri teen (Reuters)
• Russia sends big aid convoy to Ukraine, West sounds warnings (Reuters)
• Maliki Bid to Block Successor Escalates Crisis in Iraq (BBG)
• Poor German data pushes euro toward 9-month lows against dollar (Reuters)
• Derivatives Reincarnate Boosting Debt Wagers in New Era  (BBG)
• Israel Says No Gaza Talks Progress as Hamas Warns on Truce (BBG)
• Traders brace for research crackdown as easy money dries up (Reuters)
• U.S. Bank Profits Near Record Levels (WSJ)
• Unproven Ebola Drugs Are Ethical to Use in Outbreak: WHO (BBG)
• Caesars’ CEO Loveman Says No Qualified Bidders for Revel (BBG)

• Maliki digs in as U.S. pushes for new Iraq government (Reuters)
• Ukraine's forces say close to taking rebel-held Donetsk (Reuters)
• Anger Over Michael Brown Shooting Leads to Looting (WSJ)
• German Economy Backbone Bending From Lost Russia Sales (BBG)
• Kinder Morgan to Consolidate Empire (WSJ)
• Early Failure to Detect Gaza Tunnel Network Triggers Recriminations in Israel (WSJ)
• You’ll never guess how much BuzzFeed raised from Horowitz (FT)
• The dumb money is now chasing Chinese oligarchs: Norway’s Wealth Fund Buys $576 Million of Mayfair Area (BBG)
• Clinical trial to start soon on GSK Ebola vaccine (Reuters)
• No drone skeet shooting any time soon (WSJ)

• Pope Francis calls for action as Iraqi Christians forced to flee (Reuters)
• Richest Russians Deprived of Luxury Foods by Putin’s Ban (BBG)
• Exxon Drilling Russian Arctic Shows Sanction Lack Bite (BBG)
• Israeli Jets Strike Gaza Targets After Rockets Shatter Truce (BBG)
• U.S. starts aid airdrops in Iraq but no strikes yet (Reuters)
• Banks Said to Be Arranging Argentine Debt Buyer Group (BBG)
• Siberia Flight-Ban Threat Forces Airlines to Mull Options (BBG)
• Malaysia Airlines to Be Delisted in $429 Million Buyout (BBG)
• Erdogan poised to win Turkey's first popular presidential vote (Reuters)
• African Bank Fights Collapse in Espirito Santo-Like Drama (BBG)
• China to build lighthouses on five isles in defiance of U.S. call (Reuters)

• Russia bans all U.S. food, EU fruit and vegetables in sanctions response (Reuters)
• Snowden receives three-year Russian residence permit (Reuters)
• Headline of the day: Europe's Recovery Menaced by Putin as Ukraine Crisis Bites (BBG)
• Americans worry that illegal migrants threaten way of life, economy (Reuters)
• Almost 90% of Uninsured Won't Pay Penalty Under the Affordable Care Act in 2016 (WSJ)
• Germany’s Bond Advance Sends 2-Year Note Yield Below Zero (BBG)
• Gaza War’s Critics in Crosshairs as Israelis Back Offensive (BBG)
• The 1% May Be Richer Than You Think, Research Shows (BBG)
• Bank of America Near $16 Billion to $17 Billion Settlement (WSJ)
• Deep Water Fracking Next Frontier for Offshore Drilling (BBG)

• So that's what Obama meant by "costs" - Italy Recession, German Orders Signal Euro-Area Struggle (BBG)
• Russia worries, weak German data weigh on Europe (Reuters)
• Hedge Funds Betting Against Banco Espírito Santo in Line for Big Gains (WSJ)
• Bankers Called Up for Ukraine War as Rolls-Royce for Sale (BBG)
• Double Punch for 'Inversion' Deals (WSJ)
• Statist Strongmen Putin-Xi See History’s Capitalism Clash (BBG)
• China bans beards, veils from Xinjiang city's buses (Reuters)
• BATS to Settle High-Speed Trading Case (WSJ)
• Second Ebola patient wheeled into Atlanta hospital for treatment (Reuters)