Weekly Review
               The stock market advanced to new highs in anticipation both houses of Congress would reach an agreement on a tax cut bill. It appeared on Friday the reconciliation process had run its course as House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady stated the conference committee had completed its negotiations. It now appears the Republican controlled congress has enough support to pass their tax reform bill with a final vote taking place sometime this coming week.
               Bond yields were largely unchanged for the week although 10-year Treasury yields slipped a little lower on softer than expected inflation numbers from the release of November’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). The November CPI came in at 0.4% as forecast but the Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was reported to have increased just 0.1% versus a consensus forecast of a 0.2% increase. Elsewe ...