Early Headlines: Asia Stocks Mostly Up, Dollar Up, Gold Down, Oil Down, Yields Down, DOJ Clinton Probe, Severe Weather, Iran Air Crash, House Passes Iran Limits, Iraq Kicks US Out, Plus More - 22 Articles , 11 Graphics

Early Bird Headlines 10 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 broadly higher as shares of Apple suppliers jump (CNBC) Major Asian markets were mostly in positive territory on Friday afternoon following the easing of U.S.-Iran tensions, and after U.S. stocks shot to new highs overnight. The U.S. dollar index continued to strengthen, building on gains through the week. It was last at 97.412. During the afternoon of Asia hours on Friday, prices continued falling. U.S. crude futures dropped 0.15% to $59.46 per barrel, and Brent crude was down 0.12% to $65.30 per barrel. Spot gold fell 0.1% to $1,550.66 per ounce by 0732 GMT. U.S. gold futures eased 0.2% to $1,551.60. U.S. treasuries, UK Gilts, and German Bunds all saw lower yields.

U.S.

Trump administration moves to change landmark environmental law (ABC News) The Trump administration is moving to change a landmark environmental law that could limit how much climate change is considered in government projects, a move advocates say could make it harder for the public to register concerns about pipelines and other infrastructure projects. The National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA, sets guidelines for how every government agency makes decisions, mandating that the impact on the environment and public health be considered, while also setting up the procedures for the public to officially register concerns about a project. President Donald Trump said Thursday at a White House event, surrounded by representatives of the construction, road building and beef industries praising the announcement:

“The United States will not be able to compete and prosper in the 21st century if we continue to allow a broken and outdated bureaucratic system [to] hold us back from building what we need — the roads the airports the schools, everything.”

Justice Dept. winds down Clinton-related inquiry once championed by Trump. It found nothing of consequence. (The Washington Post) A Justice Department inquiry launched more than two years ago to mollify conservatives clamoring for more investigations of Hillary Clinton has effectively ended with no tangible results, and current and former law enforcement officials said they never expected the effort to produce much of anything.

John Huber, the U.S. attorney in Utah, was tapped in November 2017 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to look into concerns raised by President Trump and his allies in Congress that the FBI had not fully pursued cases of possible corruption at the Clinton Foundation and during Clinton’s time as secretary of state, when the U.S. government decided not to block the sale of a company called Uranium One.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during an event promoting “The Book of Gutsy Women” at the Southbank Centre in London. Simon Dawson/Reuters

Severe weather could bring snow, ice, tornadoes (CBS News) An intense and dangerous severe weather system, with the potential for strong tornadoes, a paralyzing ice storm and heavy snow, will unfold Friday and Saturday in parts of the central and eastern United States. This promises to be one of the most significant systems of the season so far. Track the latest weather at LIVE ALL WEEK: Weather 6 January 2020 Through 12 January 2020 (source of 60-hour forecast graphic below, which is continually updated).

The warm air will surge as far north as New England, with temperatures in the eastern half of the U.S. catapulting 30 to 40 degrees above normal this weekend. More than 300 record warm temperatures for the date could be in jeopardy.

Iran

US officials: ‘Highly likely’ Iran downed Ukrainian jetliner (Associated Press) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country lost at least 63 citizens in the downing, said in a Thursday press conference in Toronto:

“We have intelligence from multiple sources including our allies and our own intelligence. The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile.”

Iranian official says reports that missiles downed Ukrainian passenger plane ‘a big lie’ (CNN) A spokesman for the Iranian government said reports that missiles downed the Ukraine International Airlines flight that crashed near Tehran Wednesday are “a big lie,” state-run media reported. The spokesman, Ali Rabiei, accused the United States of spreading misinformation about the crash, in which all 176 people on board were killed. Rabiei said in a statement, according to Press TV:

“No one will assume responsibility for such a big lie once it is known that the claim had been fraudulent. It is unfortunate that the psychological operation of the US government, and those supporting it knowingly and unknowingly, are adding insult to the injury of the bereaved families and victimizing them for certain goals by propagating such fallacies.”