Financial Markets and Economy
5 stocks to buy in 2017 (CNN Money)
The stock market is at record highs. The Dow is nearly at an eye-popping level of 20,000. This bull market is the second longest ever and just about anyone with money in the market has been raking it in. But will the joy ride continue?
World’s Best Stock Rally This Year Was Really Just an Illusion (Bloomberg)
Data showing the Caracas Stock Exchange posted the world’s biggest advance in 2016 isn’t to be trusted. That 114 percent rally is a fiction.
European Stocks Trim 2016 Decline as FTSE 100 Closes at Record (Bloomberg)
European stocks rose on the last trading day of the year, trimming their first annual decline since the peak of the sovereign-debt crisis in 2011.
This week’s Mutual Funds and ETF stories (Market Watch)
“In with the old year, out with the new” is how many investors treat their portfolios as January beckons. Many of us instead bank on the hope that what has worked before will do so again.
Here are the biggest ETF winners and losers of 2016 (Market Watch)
The relatively solid gains that U.S. equity markets enjoyed over 2016 masks what a volatile and uncertain year it was across the globe.
The Year In Social Enterprise And Impact Investing: 5 Happenings Of Note In 2016 (Forbes)
As 2016 draws to a close, it’s time to look back at some of the year's most noteworthy events and trends in the world of social enterprise and impact investing.
China to ban ivory trade by the end of 2017 (The Guardian)
China will ban all domestic ivory trade and processing by the end of 2017, state media reported on Friday, in a move hailed by activists as a gamechanger for Africa’s elephants.
These are the best and worst performing assets of 2016 (Market Watch)
Brazilian and Russian stocks, joined by crude oil, top the table when it comes to price performance in 2016, while Britain’s vote to exit the European Union mangled the British pound.
The 12 People Who Made the Most Money in 2016 (Fortune)
Despite all the volatility and uncertainty of 2016, it was still a pretty good year for investors—for some, though, it was a very good year. We consulted Bloomberg's real-time wealth tracker, Bloomberg Billionaires, for the latest on who added to the most lucre to their fortunes since last January.
These Were Fortune’s Best and Worst Stock Picks of 2016 (Fortune)
Most stock market investors are finishing 2016 in a much better mood than when the year began. After an ugly six weeks in January and February when stocks and oil prices tumbled in tandem, shares in the U.S. and much of the rest of the world have recovered nicely, with the S&P 500 on track to rise by just under 10% for the year.
7 mutual funds and ETFs that entered the graveyard in 2016 (Market Watch)
There’s also no shortage of mutual funds that perished in 2016, as some 425 traditional funds were liquidated in the past 12 months, more than double that of 2015, according to Morningstar Inc. More than 125 exchange traded funds bit the dust — up more than 25% — and nearly 700 other funds were killed off through mergers.
Companies
5 Things That Could Make Amazon Even Stronger In 2017 (Fortune)
Amazon's 2016 has been record breaking on many fronts. The company recorded its sixth consecutive quarterly profit (previously, it mostly hemorrhaged cash). Meanwhile, this year marked Amazon's growing strength in hardware with its hit Echo home automation hub Amazon Echo, and its companion voice assistant Alexa.
Technology
Retail's secret weapon: high-tech heat maps (CNN)
Online stores enjoy some big advantages over their brick and mortar competitors — cheaper rent, 24/7 sales and near instant feedback about their buyers' preferences and shopping habits.
The 2017 tech shopping spree is upon us (Market Watch)
The technology industry is expected to experience a new wave of mergers and acquisitions in 2017, as chip makers resume rampant consolidation and non-tech companies scoop up talent and assets.
The 5 biggest tech controversies of 2016 (Business Insider)
From exploding batteries to foul-mouthed artificial intelligent chatbots, this year has been an interesting year for tech controversies. Here are the 5 biggest controversies that hit the tech world in 2016.
The 10 best concept cars of 2016 (Business Insider)
Carmakers are just now discovering what the future of automotive innovation will truly look like. Common threads are electric vehicles, self-driving, and automatic rising roofs. Check out the best of the last year.
NEW UNICORNS: Meet the 14 startups that grew to be worth billions in 2016 (Business Insider)
In Silicon Valley, a "unicorn" is a company with a billion-dollar valuation. Its name implies how rare it should be to reach that status.
Honda recalling nearly 53,000 minivans in Canada, parts not available until spring (The Canadian Press)
Honda Canada says it will take until next spring to get the parts required to fix thousands of Odyssey minivans that are being recalled because second-row seats may not lock into position.
Neural Network Can Create High-Res Imaged Based On A Text Description (Digital Trends)
As far as artificial intelligence goes, 2016 has been the year of deep learning. Brain-inspired neural networks have received massive amounts of investment in time, resources and funding — and, boy, has it ever paid off!
Politics
A resolution for the establishment in 2017: No more no-choice politics (Business Insider)
This year, we learned the limits of no-choice politics: Telling voters they have to do something they don't like, or else.
Establishment political parties have been playing a dangerous game — contriving situations in which the only acceptable choice happens to be one favored by elites, and hoping that voters will choose it under duress.
Happy New Year In Trump's America: Out With The Old And In With The Old (Cartoon Of The Day, Forbes)
For many Americans, especially the young, minorities and progressives, the prospect of a new year has never seemed less hopeful. Cartoon by Ted Rall.
Trump Is Exactly Where The Elites Want Him (Alt-Market.com)
Cognitive dissonance is a powerful drug. It makes otherwise-very-intelligent people goofy and incoherent in their thinking and blinds them to certain realities that they should normally see right in front of their noses. I witness it all the time in the field of economics — a key piece of logic, a key fact that certain people absolutely refuse to take into account simply because they have a singular idea of how the world works and they cannot allow that idea to ever come into question.
Trump’s inaugural parade lineup announced (Politico)
President-elect Donald Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee on Friday announced a list of groups that will participate in the inaugural parade.
U.S. Ethics Chief Ordered Gushing Responses To Trump’s Tweets (The Huffington Post)
Newly obtained records reveal that the head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics personally ordered several oddly enthusiastic tweets after President-elect Donald Trump’s recent claim that he planned to sever ties to his business operations to avoid conflicts of interest as president.
Senate moves to condemn U.N. over Israel (Politico)
Congressional Republicans are moving swiftly to denounce the United Nations Security Council’ recent action toward Israel, with GOP lawmakers in both chambers preparing to introduce disapproval resolutions aimed at the United Nations as soon as the new Congress convenes.
Health and Biotech
Marijuana industry is bracing for a renewed push toward legalization in 2017 (Market Watch)
In 2016, roughly 60% of Americans said they favored the legalization of recreational marijuana, as the industry gained support in invalidating the war on drugs and seven states voted to legalize it for recreational or medical use.
Life on the Home Planet
Baghdad market hit by two bombs, killing at least 28 (The Guardian)
Two bombs have exploded in a busy market area in central Baghdad, killing at least 28 people and wounding at least 54, Iraqi police and medical officials have said.
The annual British New Year's Honours List, which recognises the achievements of people across Britain, has been released.
Data reveals the 20 most popular TV shows of 2016 (Business Insider)
"Game of Thrones" was by far the most popular show around the world in 2016, according to a new analysis from Parrot Analytics. "The Walking Dead" came in second, followed by "Pretty Little Liars" and "Westworld."
18 habits of highly successful people (Business Insider)
Success can seem like a great mystery — some people are destined for it while others aren't.
9 kitchen items that will help you keep your resolution to eat healthier in 2017 (Insider Picks)
With 2017 just around the corner, it’s time for us to start making resolutions, and getting our plans together for the new year.
UFC 207: Ronda Rousey beaten by Amanda Nunes in 48 seconds – as it happened (The Guardian)
Rousey (12-2) never managed to get her footing against Nunes (14-4), who rocked Rousey with her very first punches. Rousey showed little defensive acumen as she staggered and stumbled backward with Nunes relentlessly pursuing her and landing multiple shots.
7 ways to survive New Year’s Eve (The Guardian)
Traditionally a grave disappointment, New Year’s Eve is at least a time to cut loose and escape the suffocating, sprout-scented stranglehold of the family Christmas. But with kids, you can forget about that. You’re far too late (and broke) for babysitters.
