VALLIERE: Here Are The Odds For 18 Major Market And Political Events

"We have a colleague who always asks - what are the chances? What are the odds on the key issues we follow?"

Here are Valliere's answers to some of the biggest market and political stories of the year:

THE RECOVERY: Chances that the recovery will sputter, that the current soft patch is about more than bad weather: 30% and rising.

FED TAPERING: Chances that the Fed will slow or reduce the pace of its tapering: 20% and rising.

FRESH STIMULUS: Chances of new spending or a minimum wage hike: 10%, the House won't budge.

HIRING INCENTIVES: Chances of a bill to provide tax incentives to train and hire workers: 40% and rising.

TAX REFORM: Chances that the debate will heat up: 60%; chances of action this year: 10%.

IMMIGRATION REFORM: Chances of passage in the House before this summer's GOP primaries: 0%; chances after the primaries: 40%.

OBAMACARE: Chances that it will be killed by the GOP or radically reformed: 10%.

TRADE LIBERALIZATION: Chances of an Asian trade pact: close to 0%, with congressional Democrats refusing to budge.

FANNIE/FREDDIE: Chances of a privatization bill this year: 40%.

BAILOUTS: Chances that Puerto Rico gets bailed out by Washington: 0%. Chances that Illinois or Chicago get bailed out by Washington: 0%. Chances that indebted students get their loans forgiven: 0%.

SUPREME COURT: Chances that at least one justice departs this year: 60%.

KEYSTONE PIPELINE: With Barack Obama playing to his base and seeking confrontations with the GOP, chances of approval: 55% and now slipping.

CYBERSECURITY: Chances of more data breaches this year: 100%. Chances of legislation: 55%.

FALL ELECTIONS: Chances the GOP will keep the House: 80% and rising. Chances the GOP will take the Senate: 51% and rising.

HILLARY CLINTON: Chances she'll run: only 65%, not a slam dunk. If she runs, chances she'll be the Democrats' nominee: 80%. Chances she'll be the next president: 55%.

GOP NOMINEE: Impossible to handicap at the present time.

GEOPOLITICS: Chances of an Iranian nuclear deal: 55% and slipping. Chances that Vladimir Putin moves troops into Ukraine to "preserve order": 25%. Chances of Leopoldo Lopez electrifying the world in Venezuela: 30% and rising.

THE OSCARS: Chances that "12 Years a Slave" will win best picture: 60% and rising despite the buzz for the outrageous "Wolf of Wall Street."