The busy week begins with the Swiss Franc at present the sole BEGOS Market outside (above) its Neutral Zone for today; session volatility is light. The Gold Update graphically depicts last week’s “Spike n’ Sink”, price initially driven up geopolitically and on the CPI, then back down on the PPI and a bit of Fed doubt; highlighted therein is inflation being back on the increase, the Dollar in turn getting the bid throughout last week. As to notions of an S&P 500 “Santa Claus Rally”, across the past 44 years for these seven trading days leading up to Christmas ’tis not occurred in 13 of them (i.e. ’tis not automatic); indeed the Spoo’s daily Parabolics flipped to Short effective today’s open. Cac volume for the Spoo is rolling from December into that for March, and for Oil from January into February. For the Econ Baro there are 19 metrics due this the week, 10 of which arrive prior to Wednesday’s FOMC Policy Statement; today brings December’s NY State Empire Index.