1 Trump threatens Iran after protesters attack U.S. Embassy in Iraq
U.S. troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who descended on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad for a second time Wednesday. The protests by hundreds of supporters of an Iranian-backed militia began Tuesday, when they broke through a gate and set fire to a reception area as U.S. diplomats were barricaded inside the embassy. The protesters were angry over U.S. airstrikes on camps of the militia group Kataib Hezbollah, which Iraq's prime minister condemned. President Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for the attack, tweeting that "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities."
2 Trump says U.S., China will sign 'phase one' trade deal on Jan. 15
President Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. and China would finalize a "very large and comprehensive" trade deal with a White House signing ceremony on Jan. 15. The "phase one" agreement came after two years of often tense negotiations aiming to end a damaging trade war between the world's two largest economies. Trump tweeted that "high level representatives of China will be present" for the ceremony, adding that he would later travel to Beijing "where talks will begin on Phase Two!" The agreement was reached in mid-December, but the precise terms have not yet been released. The agreement would reduce some but not all of the tariffs Trump has imposed on $360 billion worth of Chinese imports. China has agreed to increase its purchases of U.S. farm goods.
3 Wall Street closes out 2019 by adding to year's big gains
U.S. stocks gained Tuesday on the last day of trading in 2019, capping a year of huge gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite all rose by about 0.3 percent on Tuesday. The S&P 500 gained 28.9 percent in 2019. Adding dividends, the blue-chip index had a total return of 31.5 percent. The Nasdaq rose by 35.3 percent, boosted by increases of 48 percent by technology stocks. The gains were the biggest for both indexes since 2013. The Dow gained 22.3 percent. All three of the main U.S. indexes posted a string of records in a year-end rally, as a "phase one" deal aiming to deescalate the U.S.-China trade war lifted Wall Street's mood. The market is closed Wednesday for New Year's Day.