PRIVATE JOB CREATION ‘OFF AND RUNNING’: Private sector job creation continued at a healthy clip in December, with companies adding a better-than-expected 238,000 positions despite the inclement weather. ADP and Moody's Analytics said the month was the best for 2013 and pointed towards a solid number when the government releases its nonfarm payrolls report Friday. Read more
POT PRIVATE EQUITY FUND IN THE WORKS: The High Times Growth Fund is raising $100 million to "seed" new marijuana-related businesses. This new fund will invest in a variety of pot businesses. But the fund arrives, as banks are still prohibited from lending or processing weed-related transactions. Josh spoke with Dan Riffle of the Marijuana Policy Project, who says he expects Treasury and Justice to pave the way for banks to be able to lend and process marijuana business by the end of the first quarter. Treasury's FinCen tells us that discussions are underway with Justice to resolve these issues so banks can get into the weed business. Read more
IMF PLANS TO RAISE FORECASTS: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is planning to raise its global growth forecasts, amid increased optimism about the world's economic future. The IMF will revise its forecast for how quickly the world's economy will expand in about three weeks, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the powerful international fund, told reporters. Read more
US STOCKS FINISH MIXED AS QUICKENED PACE OF FED TAPER CONSIDERED: Read more