If China is cancelling US crude that could mean it will ramp up purchases of Iranian oil. It is not in China's interest to see a conflict at the Strait of Hormuz.

It is obvious soybeans doubled to beat the tariffs.

The yield curve is distorted by the massive demand for bonds as collateral in the new normal economy. The conundrum of Greenspan is still with us. Not sure, however, how that demand reality will affect any inversion and banks ability to still function properly.

Instead of boom we have deflationary fears. And now a trade war cannot help that.

Or, prices are churned up by cornering contracts. Once those folks think that tariffs are happening they control the market by making the beans cheaper, and more attractive to other buyers elsewhere. It was said once that almost half of the CME trades were fake. I don't know about that personally, but clearly we do know that when oil went to $147, the Saudis warned the US government that the investment banks were pushing the price up, not the Saudis! Turns out that was revealed by Wikileaks and reported by McClatchy. So, there is some contract manipulation of goods going on in the world which skews supply and demand altogether.

There is likely no plans for robust data collection in any self driving car. As I wrote, Salesky says autonomous cars must take on thoughtfulness for them to really be able to work. Basically he is saying that the cars need to be Hal in a way. They need to think. They need to have judgement. You know and I know that is not going to happen: www.talkmarkets.com/.../the-waymo-tesla-self-driving-con

American cars won't sell in Europe with safety costs higher there. Trump will want to ultimately stop Europe from sending cars to the USA. Just a level playing field won't be a "win" for POTUS. Winning is even more important than dealmaking for Trump. Markets may be underestimating this need for Trump to win.

It has to be pointed out that to retrofit a car to meet Europe specifications, the cost is 30 percent added to the sticker price. Even if tariffs and taxes on American cars went to zero, Europeans would still not buy them. American companies would not likely invest in Europe. So Trump will lose the auto trade war with Europe no matter what he does. He will want to stop European cars from entering the USA once he realizes US cars won't sell there without tariffs. It could get ugly.

Short some stocks makes his statement dirtier. Maybe he is just playing around. But I don't think the average investor should make that assumption.

Great idea. I hope it passes.