President Obama on Thursday ordered the closure of two Russian diplomatic compounds and barred from the U.S. 35 Russians designated as intelligence operatives, primarily as retaliation against alleged hacking of the U.S. presidential election. Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he won’t be kicking out U.S. diplomats in response. Media reports said foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had recommended expulsions and also announced that U.S. diplomats should be barred from using an embassy vacation house near Moscow,according to the Guardian. In a statement, Putin said none would be expelled, while diplomats and their families would not be barred from using recreational centers in Moscow. He instead invited children of the diplomats to the Kremlin for a New Year’s celebration. In foreign exchange trading, the ruble is off 1.3% against the dollar.
The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index for December fell 3 points to 54.6 according to MNI Indicators. Readings above 50 signal expansion. It hit a two-year high in November.
Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of BR Capital for 1360 KUIK.
