We are riding a three day losing streak to start the year as we take a healthy breather from the big Santa Claus Rally.  Driving the rest of the week will be the beginning of earnings season on Thursday and the big jobs report on Friday morning. (Seeking Alpha)

We now know for certain the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve will be Janet Yellen.  She will take the helm on February 1st. Ben Bernanke will then hit the speaking circuit and monetize his decades of government service. (NBC)

The rental scene in Oregon is a mirror of what is happening nationally.  US apartment vacancies stand at 4.1% their lowest level in more than a decade. The lowest level ever recorded by the survey happened in 2001 at 3.9%. Rental prices were up 0.8% in 2013. (Reis Inc.)

The battle of fine dressed men continues as Men’s Warehouse has launched a hostile takeover bid of Jos. A Bank for $1.61 billion.  The two companies have been sparing for about six months on who will buy who in a merger. (Reuters)

The US Service sector slowed for the second straight month in December.  While the number was lower than expected it still showed expansion for the 48th month in a row. (Reuters)

US factory orders climbed in November by 1.8%. Orders received by manufacturers totaled $497.8 billion, the highest level on record. (Associated Press)