Thread by @CNBCJou

So here it is: my #Odeto2019 - Enjoy (it's long) !

'Twas the Night before Xmas
Stock markets at record highs
Tech sector breaking into new territory
Brushing off trade war & recession cries

But what a year 2019 was,
Let's rewind back to last December
The world was looking a little different
One last hike the Fed would rather not remember

Only took 7 months to reverse course
"A mid cycle adjustment" Powell mumbled
followed by two step September and October cuts
"Where did I find this guy" the President grumbled

But of course there was another battle front
The China US trade war raged on
In April a deal was "about 90% done"
Took another 8 months to get to Phase One

Tariffs went up on both sides
a terrible year for manufacturing and trade
PMIs slumped into contractionary territory
"95% Republican approval rating, I get top grades!"

The President tweeted, with one eye on the election
"It's all one big witch hunt, am fully exonerated"
Not everyone agreed, as Democrats pressed on
"The evidence suggests, he is NOT fully exculpated"

Meanwhile, we sat glued watching the House of Commons,
an equally tumultuous year back in the UK
"Order Order" no one really understood the amendments
But could the bill with the Irish Backstop pass? Three times Nay..

After multiple cabinet resignations and brexit deadlock
The writing was clearly etched on the wall,
Prime Minister May , resigned in May,
and of course Tory Euroskpetics were enthralled.

Then commenced the Tory leadership contest
Ten eager contenders, to be whittled down to one
Never mind trust issues,
"Let's get Brexit done"

But first PM Johnson had a cunning plan ,
proroguing Parliament and giving unlawful advice to the queen
"Don't worry its a do or die Brexit,
We will be out by Halloween!"

Back from Brussels, brandishing a deal
Deadlock in Parliament persisted,
"Time for a General Election" all parties squealed
Even Jeremy Corbyn who had resisted

And so it was on December 12th
The Conservative party secured its biggest majority in 30 years
The withdrawal bill now passed with flying colours
Brexit on January 31st with no free trade deal yet... Cheers.

2020 will also see a new BOE governor
Andrew Bailey confirmed in the seat,
Will the Bank hike or cut we wonder,
Managing brexit will be no easy feat

But in all of this let's not forget about Europe,
Caught in a brexit quagmire and manufacturing slump
"Europe treats us worse than China"
Perpetual threat of tariffs being dangled by Trump

Trouble in paradise with the German coalition:
new SPD leadership want to re-negotiate the terms
"while we poll low, we want rules of our volition"
As CDU's fiscal campaign made us all squirm

And oh the Italians kept us on our toes
The 5-Star Lega coalition fell apart
Another political crisis as the economy slows?
PD theatrically swept in with 5 Star : "it's a new start"

What about NATO the transatlantic alliance
"Braindead" declared French President Macron
"This isn't just a spending partnership but a political one"
We shook our heads, where did this all go wrong

Meanwhile OPEC+ continued with production cuts
Oil apparently too oversupplied
"we want full compliance this time: no if , no buts"
Aramco went for a local listing, not quite $2T (but they tried)

And of course the central banks, still standing firm,
The ECB unleashed its latest round of easing
A month before the end of Draghi's term
Now it's up to Lagarde to do the hawks appeasing

"We will do whatever it takes" Draghi's words
Echoing forever in the annals of history
"I am neither a dove nor a hawk
but an owl" Lagarde said fervently

Another memorable speech at the UN
"How dare you, you stole my dreams"
Green warrior Greta Thunberg
Warning of climate change in its extreme

A 2019 that was hectic to say the least:
The US President impeached
Hong Kong riots in the East
Codes of civility breached

While we don't know what 2020 has in store
Perhaps one of less uncertainty
Happy New Year to you all
and thank you for watching CNBC! - Jou