Notes today:

• The Case-Shiller index rose 10.4% in December - the biggest surge since 2014.Phoenix, San Diego and Seattle are leading gains. 

• Conference board Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.3 from 88.9 in January. 

• The MyPillow libertarian dude Mike Lindell’s complaining he is losing money ($65M) amid Dominion lawsuits. 

• Some air is coming out of Tesla, now below the price when it was included in the S&P.  

 Twitter without Trump is surging to a record - remarkable.

 BP.  Looks as if Brexit hasn’t diminished the pound badly – so far..

 Dow Theory

 SOX Semiconductor Index

 Biotech ETF (BTK)

 Shipping: Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF (BDRY.K)

 BDI Baltic Exchange Dry Index

 Nikkei P&F

S&P Vix Ratio ROC - back in range..

 DJIA P&F

 Canadian $ P&F

 Cotton P&F

 Sugar P&F

Very unfortunate that the ICE is charging an arm and leg for quotes..👎

 Soybeans P&F

 Copper P&F

Notes today:

The Lincoln Project

AOC  raised $4M for Texas emergency aid

@BetoORourke  raised $1M for Texas emergency aid

@tedcruz  flew to Cancun

• Why we can fly helicopters on Mars and have blackouts in Texas? because the first is run by scientists and the second by Republicans. 

• Sweden, which is known for its colder climate, has offered the Lone Star State (Republicans) some advice to keep the wings moving no matter how harsh the weather - and it only requires 'the right gear.' Read this zerohedge

• Much of the country was entertained by watching Ted Cruz squirm as he tried to explain why he had absconded Texas for a beach resort in Cancun. Remind me, how did this  dude vote for Hurricane Sandy emergency aid again? Reports have it that Texans are now getting energy bills in the thousands..$1000 a day -WTF

• Russia said it found the world’s first cases ofthe H5N8 strain of avian influenza in humans though the virus isn’t yet spreading between people.

• JUST IN: AG Nominee Merrick Garland opening statement for confirmation hearing Monday. Calls 1-6 "a heinous attack" and says he'll prosecute "white supremacists & others" involved. 👍👍

Couple of charts to peruse..

 NYSE Advance decline line

NASDAQ Advance decline line

NYSE Volume advance decline line

 Quick Overview is up to date

BTW: I have listened to Steve Freed of ADM and his grain comments for well over 30 years - and found it well worth my time. (Also: this comment is totally unsolicited - he does not even know I'm making it)