Chinese economic data has already been wreaking havoc on markets in 2016. So I shudder to think about the impact of the recently announced investigation by China’s anticorruption commission into the head of the country’s statistics agency over what’s been called “serious violations.”  Though the agency announced no further details, many economists fear, for example, that China’s actual growth last year was something closer to half of the 7% figure announced – NYTimes

And while we’re riding the optimism train, here’s some canary-in-the-coal-mine news from the bond market [though, to be fair, much of the bad news is, ironically enough, actually focused on coal mines (and their ilk)] – WSJ

Morgan Stanley skipped some of the speculation and just went ahead and did the Bear Market numbers for us – Bloomberg

AIG is saying “I can’t” to Icahn and his calls for a breakup of the insurance giant. Instead, “streamlining” is its plan to increase profits and “fend off activist investors who are calling for it to be broken in three” – NYTimes and WSJ

Speaking of those pesky activist investors, the Deal Professor says that a down market may be targeted companies’ best friend, as activists’ funds continue to suffer huge losses thanks to spooked investors and their volatile portfolios – NYTimes

JPMorgan, which announced a billion-plus settlement with Lehman earlier this week, is apparently in that kind of mood. It’s agreed to pay $995 million mid-trial to settle all claims with bond insurer Ambac Financial over Ambac’s toxic RMBS allegations – Law360

Yet another wrinkle in the Fed’s plan for several more incremental rate hikes this year: a relentlessly rising dollar—which “has the same impact on markets as a Fed rate increase” – WSJ

The Fed, by the way, is meeting this week. The Journal’s all over your 5 Things to Watch – WSJ

The SEC is seeking to limit dark pool trading with a pilot program it’s rolling out that would increase tick sizes (the minimum bid/offer) to a nickel from a penny – Law360

Call it a sign of the times, or perhaps the last call for old times, but computerized trading firm Global Trading Systems has announced that its taking over the NYSE floor seats currently held by Barclays—the last “traditional financial institution to still run a major operation on the floor of the Big Board.” Barclays had been the “designated market maker for 1,200 stocks listed on the exchange,” meaning that it was responsible for “setting the opening and closing prices for stocks listed” there – NYTimes and Bloomberg

Looking for your Thomas Crowne-like chance to take in some art during the business day? Head on over to the Guggenheim.  From your desk – ArchDaily