Like a gnat on a summer night, the situation in Ukraine flutters and darts around the periphery of the world's vision. Just when things seem to simmer down, the tension ratchets up again.
As is almost always the case, the number of new jobs does not comport with the actual "assessed" unemployment rate. The last few months, new job creation in the United States has been very sluggish, but the unemployment rate kept creeping down.
An interesting sign appeared today in the precious markets. Bargain hunter stepped in as prices were going up, just as they did yesterday. Those hounds are smelling something and it ain't steak and eggs.
Attention turned away somewhat from the situation in Ukraine yesterday, a trend that continued today as soft U.S. economic data came in and converted a losing day into a winner.