Frontrunning: January 4

Just like last year: A Postholiday Letdown for Retailers (WSJ) Obama Fights Republicans on Debt as Investors Seek Growth (BBG) Housing a Sweet Spot for U.S. Economy as Recovery Expands (BBG) House chooses Boehner as speaker again despite dissent (Reuters) Backlash pushes Republicans to seek cuts (FT) Jobs Lost Hit 5 Million With Rigged Currencies (BBG) Chavez still has "severe" respiratory problem (Reuters) Paris promises flurry of economic reforms  (FT) Investors Sour on Pro Stock Pickers (WSJ) Abe moves to ease South Korea tensions (FT) Wildfires Hit Australia Amid Worst Heatwave in Decade (BBG) Monti attacks ‘extremist’ rivals (FT)   Overnight Media Summary WSJ * Investors are jumping out of mutual funds managed by professional stock pickers and shifting money into lower-cost funds that echo the broader market. Through November, investors pulled $119.3 billion from so-...