U.S. equities are flat in early trading, despite a 1.9% advance in the price of WTI crude oil ($46.35/barrel) on news that U.S. crude stockpiles plunged 12 million barrels last week.

As the name implies, “drawing dead” means that there is no possible way, no cards that you can be dealt, that will result in your winning.

The Beige Book compiles qualitative observations made by community bankers and business owners about economic and banking conditions in each of the 12 Fed districts.

Equities are near flat this morning, as the market continues to be range bound.

U.S. equities opened mixed this morning, though overseas indexes are mostly higher as traders are looking ahead to a series of central bank meetings this week.

My first “Employment Friday” as part of the labor market was in early October 1986.