* Russian military base in Crimea hit by a series of explosions
* Recession worries take a bite out of oil prices
* China’s housing market weakens in July after briefly stabilizing
* Weak economic data in US and China weigh on commodities prices
* US gasoline prices may continue falling to $3 a gallon, says analyst
* German sentiment among financial analysts near all-time low in August
* US homebuilder sentiment points to recession for housing sector
* NY Fed Mfg Index falls re: current conditions, indicating contraction in August:

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Nearly all the major asset classes posted gains in the trading week through Friday, Aug. 12, based on a set of proxy ETFs. Despite the upside bias in prices, the crowd will continue to wrestle with deciding if the recovery is a bear market rally for risk-on or the start of a new bull market.

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* China conducts military drills around Taiwan as US lawmakers visit
* US will roll out new Taiwan trade support and conduct air, sea transits
* China cuts interest rates as economic slowdown deepens
* Will Fed’s Powell outline new thinking on quantitative tightening at Jackson Hole?
* US employers struggle to find workers
* Most traders see a recession starting this year, survey finds
* US consumer sentiment rebounds in August, rising to 3-month high:

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