Dear Subscriber,

Chatter about a new trade agreement between the U.S. and China is giving the market some short-term juice. But I’d warn anyone that the devil is in the details.

Neither side is fleshing out just HOW they plan to break the impasse. That spells more trouble ahead, as neither side wants to lose face.

Meanwhile, Speaker Pelosi and President Trump play their vicious game of political one-upmanship. This goes beyond the 800,000 federal employees working without pay, and up to 4 million government contractors suddenly left without income. That's because when workers are missing their paychecks, businesses are no longer able to count on having them as customers.

Heck, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon used to be bullish on the economy. But on Tuesday, he warned that the shutdown could WIPE OUT growth if it lasts the entire quarter.

And for those who think the shutdown will end soon, I’d like to know why. Neither side in this political civil war has a reason to cry “uncle.” In the halls of power in Washington, they’re well-cushioned from the pain the shutdown causes in the heartland.

And THAT’S why consumer sentiment is plunging …

It’s the worst reading since 2016. Workers are scared. The next jobless claims number is going to surge, as federal employees stop getting paychecks.

And it’s not just workers. Investors are going to be flying blind, as nine government agencies are shut down. Those agencies won’t be releasing vital statistics about the U.S. economy that every investor relies on, one way or another.

For example, the next time the Fed meets on Jan. 29, the bank chiefs won’t have fourth-quarter GDP in hand as they try to decide what to do with interest rates.

So investors and politicians alike are flying blind into the eye of what could be a financial hurricane. That is, if the storm warnings from China and Europe are any indication.

I’ll have more for you on just what I’m seeing from overseas … as well as the dangers — and opportunities — here at home … in an urgent online briefing this coming Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern.

It’s free to attend, and you can register with a single click to this link.

You will get my immediate forecasts on how the stealth recession will impact stocks, bonds, gold, oil and the dollar — both up and down.

PLUS, attendees will receive the names of two new investments I’ve just selected to help bag big profits precisely in times like these.

Click here for your free registration. Then join me on Tuesday.

Best,

Sean Brodrick