Cautious Markets Ahead Long Weekend, Russia/Ukraine Tension High

Long weekend ahead: US markets closed for Presidents Day holiday Monday, while US officials are on high alert over Russia positioning for attack on Ukraine.
On/off risk action (more the latter through the US Session) continued Friday.

• After falling more than 2% Thu, SPX eminis bounced early overnight on reports US Sec of State Blinken will meet w/ Russian foreign minister Lavrov next week (providing Ukraine isn't invaded) in ongoing attempts to find diplomatic solution to tensions. Reports separatists in Donetsk, East Ukraine evacuating some 700k women and children to Russia, report of car bomb in city center, Denials, reprisals and threats of sanctions -- saw equities fall through technical support.
• Tsy futures rallied, curves bull flattened after steepening Thu, 30YY fell to 2.2363% low. Late Friday: 2-Yr yield is up 0.8bps at 1.4737%, 5-Yr is down 1.4bps at 1.8255%, 10-Yr is down 3.3bps at 1.9286%, and 30-Yr is down 4.6bps at 2.2486%.
• March Pricing Trimmed Further On Williams: Fed Funds pricing for Mar 16 has fallen from 34bp to 31bp after NY Fed’s Williams said he doesn’t see a compelling argument for a big first rate increase, another voice to lean towards a 25bp hike. In turn, lead quarterly Eurodollar futures climbed to 99.37 high after tapping 99.3375 on large -20k EDH2 sale Block at 99.34.
• Decent futures volumes as Mar/Jun rolling picked up, March Tsy option expiration a contributing factor.
• On market return Tuesday: housing data, Markit PMIs, flurry of Tsy auctions, NY Fed buy-op on tap.