The Monday Mix: Dec. 30 – Jan. 5, 2020

people walking on street

Headlines discussed at LNWM’s Monday morning briefing:

Geopolitical tensions flared, after the US killed in Iraq a top Iranian commander; oil prices soared; stocks fell.
A key US manufacturing index fell in Dec. to its lowest level since 2009  (47.2 on the PMI); under 50 indicates contraction.
Phase 1 of the US-China trade deal is to be signed Jan. 15; considerable confusion remains about the details.
Safe haven assets and currencies — gold, Treasuries, Swiss franc, US dollar, Japanese yen — rose on geopolitical concerns.
China replaced its top representative in Hong Kong; ongoing protests there are supported by 59% of the population.