Sometimes it doesn't pay to state the obvious.

"Well the cat’s out of the bag. The worst kept secret in the financial world is now not only accepted orthodoxy, but finally being discussed openly by, at least some, authorities. Central bank policies are directly driving asset prices and the bubbles therein. It’s what they do. It has been so stunningly obvious that, at this point, it makes a mockery of things to deny it as an ongoing, and essential, part of how their strategy is implemented. Oddly enough, however, it’s a revelation that is, apparently, coming late to many people with a lot of savings and nothing to show for it. And it is an undeniable factor in this January’s price action."

Richard K Breslow, Trader's Notes

— Bloomberg Government

NY Fed: Repo-market intervention to continue

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says operations to inject liquidity into the repurchase market will continue until at least mid-February. However, the maximum size of injections is being reduced to $30 billion from $35 billion. (Reuters | Jan 14)

Hedge funds could make one potential Fed repo-market fix hard to stomach

Federal Reserve officials are considering a new tool to ease stresses in the repo market. One hurdle to a possible fix for recent volatility in the short-term cash markets: hedge funds. (The Wall Street Journal | Jan 14)

U.S. budget deficit exceeded $1T last year

The U.S. budget deficit reached $1.02 trillion in 2019, according to the Treasury Department. This marks the first time the deficit has topped $1 trillion since 2012. (CNN | Jan 13)

Treasury signs off on CFIUS rules

The Treasury Department has finalized rules that give more power to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. The rules, which take effect Feb. 13, let CFIUS scrutinize a wider range of potentially sensitive transactions and give more options to withhold clearance. (Pensions & Investments | Jan 13)

Survey: Most CFOs project downturn or see one underway

The outlook of chief financial officers is viewed as an indicator of business sentiment, with their opinion given considerable weight because they accurately predicted the financial crisis. A Deloitte survey finds 97% of CFOs think an economic downturn will occur this year or has started. (Forbes | Jan 13)

Microsoft patches Windows 10 after NSA warning

Microsoft is rolling out a security fix to Windows 10 after the National Security Agency warned of a flaw that hackers could use to spoof legitimate software and run ransomware or other malicious programs on millions of computers. Reporting the vulnerability represents a departure for the NSA from its past strategy of keeping security flaws under wraps to exploit for its own surveillance and intelligence needs.

—  The Verge

Cybersecurity best practices remain elusive

This piece outlines four key challenges that need to be overcome to enhance cybersecurity. The scary thing is that cybersecurity leaders have been banging the drum trying to tackle the first two challenges for YEARS. And yet, those issues haven't been fully addressed.

—  World Economic Forum

Remember the Y2000 bug? A lazy fix is taking down computers now.

The Y2020 bug, which has taken many payment and computer systems offline, is a long-lingering side effect of attempts to fix the Y2K, or  millennium bug .

—  New Scientist

For bartenders, 'Dry January' is the time to get weird

“Dry January” brings out the weird in bartenders. On the wagon for a few weeks? Well, that isn’t stopping bars with a year-round interest in your wallet. Experimental bartender approaches to booze-free cocktails and changes in decor are being used to fill seats during the slowest booze month of the year.

—  Bloomberg Drinks

Admit it: You have a box of cords you'll never, ever use again

What’s this one for? Who knows! Electronic gadgets fade away but their cables live on forever at home.

—  The Wall Street Journal

How to spot a 'deepfake'

It’s something that could potentially start to do real damage to businesses. Cybercriminals have already fooled a company into  making a $234,000 wire transfer  using an AI-powered deepfake of its CEO’s voice – and who knows how many other stories have gone unreported?

—  World Economic Forum