We’ve nearly run out of calendar and so it’s time for The Capital Spectator to put a fork in 2019. We’ll be back on Thursday, Jan. 2 with a new year and fresh numbers to slice and dice. Meantime, all the best for 2020. Cheers!

A clean sweep of higher prices lifted all corners of the global markets for the shortened Christmas week of trading, based on a set of ETFs representing the major asset classes. The holiday rally through Dec. 27 is the latest installment in an extraordinary year that’s on track to deliver gains in everything once 2019’s final trade closes.
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US strikes Iran-backed militia forces in Iraq and Syria: USA Today
Iraqi militia leader vows response to US attacks: Reuters
Trump’s tweets name alleged whisteblower, unleashing new controversey: BBG
Democrats try to undercut Trump’s strong economy message in Iowa: NY Times
US wages rising at fastest pace in over a decade: WSJ
China boosts lending in a risky bid to support small business financing: FT
Japan’s stock market ends 2019 as a top regional performer: CNN
Extreme poverty in the world cut in half over the last decade: Axios
US manufacturing rebound appears to be fading, based on regional Fed indexes: