Early Headlines: Asia Stocks Up, Dollar Up, Oil Up, Gold Down, Yields Mixed, Limited Senate Trial, War Powers, Crisis Cools, Airliner On Fire, Harry And Meghan, Russia-Turkey-Libya, Plus More - 21 Articles, 8 Graphics

Early Bird Headlines 09 January 2020.

Econintersect: Here are some of the headlines we found to help you start your day. For more headlines see our afternoon feature for GEI members, What We Read Today, published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which has many more headlines and a number of article discussions to keep you abreast of what we have found interesting.

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Key Articles

Global

Asia markets bounce back after US-Iran tensions appear to ease (CNBC) Asia Pacific markets rebounded Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on the Iran conflict eased investor worries about further escalation of geopolitical risks in the Middle East. The dollar index last traded higher at 97.289, climbing from around 96.818 in the previous session. U.S. crude futures traded up 0.15% at $59.71 a barrel at 3:24 p.m. HK/SIN on Thursday. Global benchmark Brent traded fractionally higher at $65.49. These moves followed a 5% plunge in the previous U.S. trading. Spot gold was down 0.59% at 1,546.57 an ounce at 3:26 p.m. Gold futures for February delivery fell 0.83% to $1,547.3. U.S. treasury and UK gilt yields traded down, German bund yields were up.

U.S.

McConnell’s win on impeachment trial procedure was months in the making (Politico) Under the tentative rules package, which is the same as those used in President Bill Clinton’s 1999 Senate trial, the House will be allowed to present its case against Trump and then the president’s defense team will respond. At that point, McConnell or any GOP senator could move to end the trial and call for a final vote on the charges against Trump. Or Democrats could try to seek witness testimony or the introduction of new documentary evidence. It will be up to a majority of the Senate to decide.

Yet for McConnell and Trump, the victory is securing a path to getting the trial started. For both the Senate majority leader, whose majority is endangered, and a president facing reelection in nearly 10 months, the overwhelming concern is kicking off the proceeding so they can hurry up and acquit Trump.

House to vote Thursday on war powers resolution after Iran attacks (The Hill) The House will vote Thursday on a resolution to limit President Trump’s ability to take future military action against Iran without congressional authorization, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) announced Wednesday afternoon. Pelosi’s statement came after a classified lawmaker briefing from top administration officials following attacks by Iran the night before on two bases in Iraq that house U.S. troops.

The resolution directs the president to end the use of U.S. armed forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran unless Congress has formally authorized it or if there is an “imminent armed attack upon the United States.”

Iran

Crisis Averted? (Fareed’s Global Briefing) There is no better analysis of Middle East affairs than Fareed Zakaria. This is his screed for 08 January 2020 as summarized and extended by CNN‘s Chris Good.
Iran investigation says Ukrainian airliner was on fire before crash (Reuters) A Ukrainian airliner was on fire immediately before it crashed southwest of Tehran killing all 176 on board, according to an initial report by Iranian investigators.