[expat_panama]

	Markets		December 31, 2014		Futures (2 hrs. before bell)
	metals		Continuing flat w/ gold down to $1,183.40 and silver $15.69 --now both a bit higher		-0.1%
	stocks		...losing ground...  ...the Nasdaq dropped 0.9% Wednesday, while the S&P 500 lost 1%... ...Volume rose across the board. The day's action constituted a distribution day for the Nasdaq and S&P500...  (IBD link)		+0.37%

OK, so we have to try out at least one day of 2015 but if we don't like it we can go and take a couple days off.  Reports:  ISM Index Dec and Construction Spending. News:

• Euro Forecasters See More Pain After Worst Year Since 2005Bloomberg - 2 hours ago Midway through European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's May press conference in Brussels, the euro rose to its strongest level during his tenure..
• Oil reverses early gains, trades near $57 as supply glut prevails Reuters - 4 hours ago LONDON (Reuters) - Brent crude LCOc1 reversed early gains to trade near $57 a barrel on Friday, as the glut of oil that has halved prices since June overshadowed investors repositioning at the start of the year for an eventual recovery.
• Egg prices move up as hens move around Albuquerque Journal - 4 hours ago FRESNO, Calif. - The new year is expected to bring rising chicken egg prices across the U.S. as California starts requiring farmers to house hens in cages with enough space to move around and stretch their wings.
• Why energy investors are watching the 'man camps' Oil investors are paying attention to Civeo's recent plummeting as the drop points to indications of slower oil investments. CNBC
• How Index Funds Mislead Investors - Conrad de Aenlle, MarketWatch
• How Low Will the Oil Price Fall? $30 Is Possible - Matt Egan, CNNMoney
• Buckle Up For A Wild Ride In 2015 - E.S. Browning, Wall St. Journal

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

“Egg prices move up as hens move around”

About 2 weeks ago I bought an 18 pack of eggs. They went from $3.50 to $5.99. I now think of them as chicken caviar.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Enjoy. Happy New Year!

[1010RD]

The egg issue is exactly why we have a Commerce Clause. It's to prevent one state, large or small, from dictating policy to the other states. These guys should sue California under the CC.

This could be a breakthrough case against big government at the state, county and local level. If a guys wheat grown on his own farm for his own consumption is in commerce, how can all this regulation, zoning and licensing not be?

From the article:

The new standard backed by animal rights advocates has drawn ire nationwide because farmers in Iowa, Ohio and other states who sell eggs in California have to abide by the same requirements.

[Jumper]

I wonder if the fast rising stock market of 2014 will end up like in 2000. Before anyone had filed their taxes, they had lost the gains and then hit by the double whammy of income tax - this is surefire way to make one more generation wary of saving for their futures.