Staying Focused on What Really Causes Bear Markets

What’s in Today’s Report:

  • Staying Focused on What Really Causes Bear Markets
  • Weekly Market Preview:  Can Oil Further Stabilize?
  • Weekly Economic Cheat Sheet:  Fed Minutes (Wednesday) Are the Key Report

Futures are slightly higher following a generally quiet weekend of news.

Geopolitically,  there are calls for more sanctions on Russia as the international community is now accusing Russia of war crimes following the discovery of a mass grave outside of Kiev. Oil, which is the key proxy for additional sanctions, is only slightly higher, however, implying the market isn’t expecting significant additional sanctions in the near term.

Economic data was sparse as the only notable report was German exports which rose solidly (up 6.4%).

Today there are no notable economic reports and no Fed speakers, so the focus will be on geopolitics, and again any hints of progress towards a ceasefire will help extend the recent rally.