Mornin’, everyone.

It’s another pitch-black pre-dawn here in bucolic Palo Alto. We find ourselves at the end of yet another trading week, with the indexes, by and large, spoon-feeding the bulls, as codified by Dual Mandate. Yet hope springs eternal, particularly here in the hallowed halls of Slope.

The first thing I’d note is that the US dollar continues to grind its way lower against the Yen. Oddly, the prospects of an island-nation of senior citizens apparently beats the pants off our once-great Republic. The move is slow, but seems resolute. I believe this will be important.