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The Capital Spectator: Investing, Asset Allocation, and Economic Insights

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        <p>* Trump <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-to-face-impeachment-vote-over-capitol-riot-11610543781">impeached</a> for the second time, with the backing of 10 Republican lawmakers.<br/>* Will the Senate <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/534096-mcconnell-says-hes-undecided-on-whether-to-vote-to-convict-trump">convict and remove</a> Trump? The Senate leader remains undecided.<br/>* Biden is set to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-14/biden-s-economic-plan-will-test-republican-taste-for-dealmaking?srnd=premium">reveal a new plan</a> for COVID-19 relief today.<br/>* Federal officials <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/politics/us-government-prepares-for-extremists/index.html">issue warnings</a> about potential new attacks by extremists.<br/>* China's exports experienced an increase of <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-trade/chinas-export-growth-beats-expectations-on-resilient-global-demand-idUSKBN29J094">more than expected</a> in December.<br/>* China reported its first COVID-19 death since May, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/14/china-reports-first-covid-death-in-more-than-six-months-as-who-investigators-arrive.html">officials</a>.<br/>* ECB President Christine Lagarde <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/crypto-currency-ecb/reuters-next-ecbs-lagarde-calls-for-regulating-bitcoins-funny-business-idUSL1N2JO0RM">calls for</a> global oversight of Bitcoin.<br/>* The US headline <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/13/cpi-december-2020.html">consumer inflation</a> rose by 1.4% throughout 2020:</p>

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Is the US economy facing the danger of a double-dip recession? According to the latest data from the ADS Index, a real-time gauge of business conditions from the Philadelphia Fed, the risk is growing. While this benchmark serves as a significant measure for monitoring recession risks, its design for timely updates can also lead to unpredictability. Nevertheless, the recent downward trend in the ADS warrants close attention as the pandemic continues to disrupt economic stability in the new year.

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        <p>* An expanding number of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/13/house-gop-impeachment-trump/6637559002/">Republicans have indicated support</a> for today's impeachment vote against Trump.<br/>* Pence <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-weigh-trump-censure-impeachment-11610460924">dismisses</a> efforts to remove Trump via the 25th amendment.<br/>* The US will <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-require-covid-19-tests-for-all-international-visitors-11610472867">mandate proof</a> of negative COVID-19 tests for all international travelers.<br/>* China's COVID-19 cases <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cases/as-china-covid-19-cases-rise-millions-more-placed-under-lockdown-idUSKBN29I03G">recently surged</a> to the highest levels in over five months.<br/>* New data from Brazil indicates that China's coronavirus vaccine is <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-55642648">50.4% effective</a>.<br/>* A global <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/business/global-chip-shortages-carmakers/index.html">shortage</a> of semiconductors is impacting auto manufacturing.<br/>* Job openings in the US fell <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-12/u-s-job-openings-declined-by-less-than-forecast-in-november">less than anticipated</a> in November but continue to trend downward.<br/>* The US small business optimism index <a href="https://www.nfib.com/surveys/small-business-economic-trends/">saw a significant decline</a> in December:</p>

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As the world continues to grapple with a pandemic, the US government is facing upheaval, and myriad global events have the potential to disrupt asset markets. Should we also be concerned about the implications of rising interest rates?

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