Notes today:

• Finland and Sweden took a major step on their way to NATO membership after Turkey dropped its opposition to their bids, all but ensuring the military alliance’s expansion on Russia’s doorstep. 

• Cassidy Hutchinson gave the most damning January 6 testimony yet in a House committee’s hearings on how the United States of America was attacked by its own president. 

• The Bank of Japan is under growing pressure to stabilize the yen as it sinks to a 24-year low and ought to abandon its 0.25% cap on benchmark bond yields. 

• Investors are on a real estate bargain hunt in Japan, fueled by the historic weakness of the yen. 

• Industrial production in Japan declined by 7.2 percent month-over-month in May. 
• Germany's Consumer price inflation unexpectedly eased to 7.6% in June from 7.9 % in May
• Germany's import prices have eased to 30.6% YoY in May from 31.7% in April  in a sign that inflation may have peaked.

• Brexit is making it harder for UK suppliers to get good caviar 😢