Happy Sunday evening....from Florida ironically; and not from Barcelona. I'm back and decided to abort the trip, since my travel companion wasn't cleared at the airport to fly due to a new EU regulation regarding proximity of Passport expiration to return. Just so you all know; the EU changed it from 3 months to 6 months; so that was the reason for denied boarding. Didn't realize it couldn't be resolved until we got to New York; so did what's called a 'trip in vain'. Delta was at least helpful in getting me back to Florida after a day in NY. ( I am generally recovered from last year's heart procedures but I still wasn't comfortable traveling to Europe or cruise alone; hence canceled the trip from Delta's JFK SkyClub.)

I'm being forthcoming about what happened as it's a message to everyone as to EU rule change; on top of which next year you'll need an E-Visa to travel to the EU from the USA. In any event, since I think Delta felt slightly responsible for not warning International travelers, they were very accommodating despite 'technically' not required to notify flyers of a change. They handled it 1st Class and I appreciate that. So my first longer trip barely started and it's over; so I'm home and will have more than brief comments or 'X-rays'... Perhaps it's fate of course; but that I'll never know. I do know that two of my prior cruise pals are struggling in California with Covid right now; so maybe that's a hint to delay. I do intend to figure out another way to take a break soon; but not this week.

So the market: frustrating Friday on a downbeat note; but we expected S&P selling ahead of the first of the Jewish holidays; and then somewhat on-hold ahead of the FOMC, which is this week.

S&P futures are up 8 points Sunday evening as I type this; and while we've forewarned of September risk and very much so in the overpriced mega-cap stocks, this is not particularly dramatic, and while it may get there, I doubt so at the moment, ahead of FOMC, which hasn't seen the Fed telegraph intentions at all clearly; but really they should pause... just stop. Price increases are evident everywhere you go, and that's not at all surprising (I suppose a day in New York made that noticeable as well); but some craziness might be ahead of the UN gathering this week; crowded and wasn't at all a breeze through JFK regardless of TSA, Clear or any of it.

So we have an auto strike; FOMC; heaviness in semiconductors; while auto companies and UAW actually made progress in Saturday discussions. We'll suspect less disruption than many think; and the market to hold together just a bit, and perhaps even just oscillate this week even though I'm not cruising. Oil is steady at 91 after three-week rally; as U.S. and Chinese officials are in Malta meeting to narrow differences; a little-publicized gathering (I liked Malta the one time I was there - incredible history around WW2 as the Luftwaffe could never bomb the British out despite many attacks). In NYC it's climate protests in front of the UN ahead of that gathering. I'm sort of glad I'm home now, so cheers. I'll be with you this week as I normally would... that's the plan.

For the rest, refer to my pre-travels early weekend report.

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