Notes Today: 

• US Construction spending rose 0.9% in November, reflecting a surge in demand from buyers taking advantage of ultra-low interest rates or leave cities for more space during a pandemic. Spending on new homes rose 16.2% YoY.  

• The US cost of buying a home climbed to the highest level in six years. 

• US Manufacturing PMI climbed to 57.1 in December from 56.7 in November.  

• Expected higher inflation ahead along with sovereign/corporate debt that’s out of hand is helping precious metals.

• (Reuters) - Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans on Monday had a message for markets: vaccines may bring the coronavirus pandemic under control this year, but the U.S. central bank is nowhere close to ending its super-easy monetarypolicy.