Today's Headlines

Bloomberg:

• China’s Xi Vows to Defend Maritime Interests, Sovereignty in ’17. Chinese President Xi Jinping said the country will deepen reforms as he vowed to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime interests in 2017, a year that will present fresh international and domestic challenges for the leaders in Beijing. In a New Year’s speech published Saturday by Xinhua, Xi said the outcome of reforms should benefit more people and he vowed to address difficulties in areas such as employment, education, health care and housing. He also said the country adheres to peaceful development and resolutely safeguards its sovereignty and maritime interests. 
• Hollande Says France Must Defend Values in Cold War Climate. French President Francois Hollande tells the French they have values to defend in the context of a new Cold War -- a reference to both geopolitics and the country’s looming presidential election. “There are moments in history when everything can be toppled. We are living through one of those periods,” Hollande said in a televised speech from Paris. “Democracy, freedom, Europe and even peace -- all of these things have become vulnerable, reversible. We saw it with Brexit and with the U.S. election in November.”
• Solar Panels Now So Cheap Manufacturers Probably Selling at Loss. Solar manufacturers led by China’s Trina Solar Ltd. are probably selling at a loss after prices fell to a record low this week. The global spot market price for solar panels fell 2.4 percent to an average of 36 cents a watt on Dec. 28, according to PVinsights.
• Money, Markets and Marvels: Understanding the Year Ahead.

Wall Street Journal: 

• The PC Police Crack Down on . . . Kids Books. The literary altercations of 2016 have highlighted the dilemma of publishers, illustrators and writers in a neo-Jacobin era of hair-trigger racial, sexual and ethnic sensitivities.
• The Year in Markets: 2016 in Nine Charts.

Barron's:

• Had bullish commentary on (RTN), (PNC), (USFD) and (GD).
• Had bearish commentary on (WAAS).

Fox News:

• Report: Some federal agencies rush to make new hires ahead of Trump, vowed hiring freeze. (video)
• Democrats act to save ObamaCare from GOP repeal, Obama to Hill, 'Day of Action'. (video)

CNBC:

• Deutsche Bank Flew and Fell. Some Paid a High Price.
• China state broadcaster rebrands in international push.

Zero Hedge:

• Trump Mocks CNN, NBC; Praises Putin: "Great Move On Delay - I Always Knew He Was Very Smart".
• In 2017 Address, Merkel Decries "Distorted Picture" Of Refugee Policy "Painted By Populists".
• "This Would Cross Our Red Line" - Chinese Military Considering Measures To "Cripple" Taiwan. 
• Chicago Violence Worst In 20 Years: "Not Seen This Level Of Disrespect For Police Ever".
• Global Recession And Other Visions For 2017.
• Goldman's(GS) 10 Most Important Questions For 2017.
• Obama Heads To The Hill To Strategize With Dems On Fighting Obamacare Repeal.
• Trump Tweets Taunt: "Happy New Year To My Many Enemies Who Lost So Badly".
• Italy Urges Europe To Begin Censoring Free Speech On The Internet.
• Obama Takes In 606% More Syrian Refugees Than Last Year, 98.8% Muslim.
• 2016 Ends With A Whimper: Stocks Slide On Last Minute Pension Fund Selling. (graph)

Business Insider:

• Armed attack at Istanbul nightclub kills at least 35, governor says.
• A giant wave of store closures is about to hit the US.
• Investors brace for 2017 shocks after surprise 2016 run.
• The most iconic Reuters photo from nearly every country in the world in 2016.
• The end of Sears(SHLD) is near.
• Two bombs in central Baghdad kill at least 28 people.

Reuters:

• At least 35 killed in Istanbul nightclub attack: Istanbul governor. At least 35 people were killed and 40 wounded when an attacker opened fire on New Year's revelers at a nightclub in Istanbul on Sunday, Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin told reporters. The attacker shot a police officer and a civilian as he entered the club in the Ortakoy district of Istanbul before opening fire inside the building, Sahin said, in what he described as a terrorist attack.