10May2016 Pre-Market Commentary: Futures Fractionally Higher, WTI Crude Steady At Mid 43’s, Canadian Oil Sands Wildfire Still Burning, Morning Indicators Mildly Bullish

Here is the current market situation from CNN Money

European markets are higher today with shares in Germany leading the region. The DAX is up 0.48% while France’s CAC 40 is up 0.44% and London’s FTSE 100 is up 0.30%.

Exclusive: Say goodbye to OPEC, powerful Putin pal predicts

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Internal differences are killing OPEC and its ability to influence the markets has all but evaporated, top Russian oil executive Igor Sechin told Reuters in some of his harshest remarks ever about the oil cartel.

Wall Street set to open higher as oil prices rise

(Reuters) – Wall Street was poised to open higher on Tuesday, tracking global equities, as investors’ appetite for risk increased and as oil prices rose.

Exclusive: U.S. investigates market-making operations of Citadel, KCG

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Federal authorities are investigating the market-making arms of Citadel LLC and KCG Holdings Inc, looking into the possibility that the two giants of electronic trading are giving small investors a poor deal when executing stock transactions on their behalf.

SWIFT rejects Bangladeshi claims in cyber heist, police stand firm

(Reuters) – SWIFT has rejected allegations by officials in Bangladesh that technicians with the global messaging system made the nation’s central bank more vulnerable to hacking before an $81 million cyber heist in February.

Saudi Aramco finalizes IPO options and plans global expansion

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant is finalizing options for its partial privatisation and will present them to its Supreme Council soon, its chief executive said about the centerpiece of the kingdom’s efforts to overhaul its economy.

Allergan profit beats on strong sales of Botox and Restasis

(Reuters) – Allergan Plc , whose $160 billion merger with Pfizer Inc fell apart last month, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, led by strong sales of wrinkle treatment Botox and eye drug Restasis.

Oil up as Canada, Nigeria problems counter stockpile concern

LONDON (Reuters) – Oil rose on Tuesday, boosted by supply disruptions in Canada and elsewhere that have knocked out 2.5 million barrels of daily production and temporarily eclipsed concern over high global inventories and a looming surplus of refined products.

World stock markets rise while yen falls back

LONDON (Reuters) – World stock markets rose on Tuesday, helped by solid corporate earnings in Europe, progress on Greek debt talks, and a new pledge by Japan that it was prepared to weaken its currency.

Exclusive: Medivation succumbs to pressure to explore sale – sources

(Reuters) – Medivation Inc will actively seek to sell itself after the US cancer drug maker rejected a $9.3 billion takeover offer from France’s Sanofi SA , according to people familiar with the situation.

We Need A Complete System Overhaul: 5 Charts That Blow Up The Status Quo

Submitted by Charles Hugh-Smith of OfTwoMinds blog,

The promises made when there were 7 workers for every retiree cannot be kept when there are only 2 workers for every retiree.

In an auto-mechanic analogy, the Powers That be are assuring us those grinding noises under the hood and the black smoke chugging out of the tailpipe are no big deal and can be fixed with a minor tuneup. They’re wrong; we need a total overhaul to avoid a total system breakdown.

The grinding noises and black smoke are telling us the engine of our economy is on its last legs. The Powers That Be (Federal Reserve, government at all levels, mainstream corporate media, etc.) have been masking the need for an overhaul with trickery for the past seven years, the financial equivalent of using heavy oil and spray-painting the battery to make it look new.

With the tranny and top end about to blow, the Status Quo keeps claiming everything’s running great and the new set of sparkplugs and minor valve adjustment (i.e. zero-interest rate policy and more banking regulations) have restored the economy to top performance.

It’s all lies, fantasy and propaganda. Nothing has been fixed. Automation has just started devouring human labor/jobs, corporate profits have peaked, the trick of pushing the stock market higher by borrowing money to buy back shares is finally falling apart, the trends of wealth and income inequality are roaring ahead full steam, and our entire system of taxation, entitlements and debt is about to blow up.

As I explain in my new books

Frontrunning: May 10

World stock markets rise while yen falls back (Reuters)

Yen Falls a Second Day as Japan Reiterates Ability to Intervene (BBG)

Say goodbye to OPEC, Russia’s Sechin says (Reuters)

European Stocks Buoyed by Banks (WSJ)

Fed’s Dudley: More Reserve Currencies Would Make for Stronger Financial System (WSJ)

Dead-of-Night Reversal Puts Brazil Impeachment Back on Track (BBG)

The Recession’s Economic Trauma Has Left Enduring Scars (WSJ)

China angered by U.S. navy patrol in South China Sea (Reuters)

FDA Seeks to Redefine ˜Healthy’ (WSJ)

Pro-Clinton Super-PAC to Start Anti-Trump Ad Barrage Before June 8 (BBG)

Saudi Aramco to press ahead with oil expansion (FT)

The World’s Most Extreme Speculative Mania Unravels in China (

LendingClub: When the Disrupter Gets Disrupted

LendingClub’s problems run deeper than just-reported issues with a loan sale.

How Credit Suisse Gained From Its Stock Price Collapse

The Swiss bank got a rare and peculiar boost in its corporate center, which drove the lower than expected losses in the first quarter.

What Japan Needs to Make Yen Intervention Work

Japan Finance Minister Taro Aso’s intervention threats have nudged the yen a bit weaker. But without other moves, this is likely temporary.

From leaf to liquid: Marijuana’s new look

Cannabis consumers are turning to more discreet concentrates and oils.

Deep Dive: How investors can avoid getting hoodwinked and use ‘funny’ corporate accounting to their advantage

Adjusted financial results can confuse investors, but you can use them to your advantage, says Phil van Doorn.