• Major European indices mostly flat-to-firmer but off best levels with the IBEX underperforming ahead of Spanish budget vote
• NZD and SEK outperform after less-dovish Central Bank policy statements
• Looking ahead, highlights include US CPI, Japanese GDP, ECB’s Visco, Fed's Mester, Bostic & Harker, RBNZ’s Orr Speaking

ASIA

Asian equity markets traded mostly higher with global sentiment underpinned as US government shutdown fears abated and amid increasing...

• All major European indices are in the green [Euro Stoxx 50 +1.0%], continuing from the optimism seen in Asia overnight on US-China trade and the potential for averting a US government shutdown.
• Greenback remains strong following reports that Lighthizer and Mnuchin have arrived in Beijing ahead of trade talks.
• Looking ahead, highlights include ECB’s Lautenschlaeger, Fed’s Powell & Mester, BoE’s Carney, UK PM May Updating House of Commons on Brexit, OPEC Monthly Oil...

Asian equity markets traded mostly higher amid cautious optimism regarding US-China trade talks and hopes of averting a government shutdown

UK House of Commons leader Leadsom commented that there was no chance UK PM May will accept Labour Party’s customs union proposal

In FX, the greenback remained firm following the prior day’s strength in which the DXY rose above the 97.00 level and posted its best levels YTD

Looking ahead, highlights include ECB’s Nowotny & Lautenschlaeger,...

• Risk appetite has supported EU stocks (Euro Stoxx 50 +0.8%) ahead of crucial trade talks this week
• DXY gains more ground, eyeing YTD highs and then the 97.000 mark
• Bipartisan talks over the weekend regarding funding for the border wall is said to have reached a stalemate ahead of this week’s government shutdown deadline
• Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Trade Balance, Fed’s Bowman

ASIA

Asia equity markets began the week mixed following the...

• Asian equity markets began the week mixed following the similar performance of their US peers on Friday and ahead of US-China trade talks
• UK PM May has agreed to talks with Labour leader Corbyn regarding a soft Brexit according to The Telegraph; later reports suggest she has rejected this potential pivot
• CHF saw volatility overnight amid a mini ‘flash-crash’ which saw the currency weaken by 1% which some attributed to stops being taken out amid...

• Major European equities are mostly idling, but auto names briefly reversed on reports that US are considering 3 potential car tariff options
• DXY remains above 96.500, while Aussie slumped on RBA’s SOMP
• Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Employment Data & Fed's Daly Speaking
• EARNINGS: Exelon Corp, Ventas, Phillips 66

• Asian stocks traded negatively with global risk appetite subdued by growth concerns and after trade-related fears resurfaced
• US President Trump said he will not meet Chinese President Xi before the March 1st deadline
• UK PM May has approached Labour MPs to table an amendment guaranteeing that the UK will match EU workers’ rights post-Brexit
• Looking ahead, highlights include German Trade Balance, Norwegian GDP, French &...

• Major European equities extended losses [Euro Stoxx 50 -0.8%] as the risk-averse sentiment intensified following the European Commission’s cut to Eurozone GDP and inflation
• DXY advances further above 96.500 while EUR/USD and GBP/USD fell below 1.1350 and 1.2900 respectively
• Looking ahead, highlights include BoE Rate Decision, Press Conference & QIR, US Initial Jobless Claims, Fed's Kaplan & Clarida, UK PM May meeting European Council President Tusk, US Auction
...

• Asian equity markets were somewhat mixed with the region cautious following the subdued performance on Wall St
• UK Parliament is now said to be planning a 2nd Brexit vote at the end of the month, ministers believe an extension of Article 50 is now inevitable
• In FX markets, the DXY stayed firm and held near 2-week highs as its counterparts languished. NZD/USD heavily pressured on poor employment data
• Looking ahead, highlights...

• Major EU equities in the red [Euro Stoxx 50 -0.2%], but IT outperforms sector-wise
• DXY extends gains above 96.000 while AUD underperforms on dovish Lowe, EUR dipped on German factory orders
• Looking ahead, highlights include US International Trade, EIA Inventories, Brazilian Rate Decision, Fed Chair Powell, Fed’s Quarles and BoC’s Lane, US 10yr Note Auction
• EARNINGS: Prudential Financial, Chipotle, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline

• Asian equity markets traded tentatively with most bourses in the region closed for holidays
• UK ministers are reportedly considering a plan that would delay Brexit to May 24th
• US President Trump delivered the State of the Union Address which focused on the economy, the border wall and trade talks
• Looking ahead, highlights include US International Trade, Retail Sales, EIA Inventories, Brazilian Rate Decision, Fed Chair Powell,...

• Major European indices extend on opening gains and are firmly in positive territory with Britain’s FTSE 100 (+1.4%) led by oil and mining giants
• EUR and GBP are both on the back foot vs the Dollar and inching closer towards downside big figures at 1.1400 and 1.3000 respectively
• Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Trade, US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI, APIs and US 3yr Note Auction
• EARNINGS: Anadarko Petroleum, Archer...

• Asia-Pac equity markets found some early support from the tech-led gains on Wall St, although later turned somewhat mixed
• EU’s top official offered Britain a legal guarantee that it would not be trapped by the Irish backstop last night but was swiftly rejected by Brexiteer MPs
• RBA kept rates unchanged at 1.50% as expected with the announcement interpreted as less dovish than some had expected
• Looking ahead, highlights...

• A lacklustre start of the week for European equities [Eurostoxx 50 -0.4%] as the region failed to sustain the momentum seen in Asia
• Dollar continues on a firmer footing as JPY and AUD underperform, while GBP still suffers from Brexit fatigue
• Looking ahead, highlights include US Building Permits and Starts, Durable Goods & Factory Orders, New York ISM Business Conditions
• EARNINGS: Alphabet, Gilead Sciences,...

• Asian equity markets began the week positively but with gains only marginal amid the mass closures in the region for the Lunar New Year
• UK PM May could be planning for a general election in June, according to reports; later downplayed
• The Tories’ fragile Brexit truce was dealt a blow yesterday after hardline Brexiteers ruled out two of May’s proposals for solving the Irish backstop issue
• Looking ahead, highlights...

• Terrible Italian Manufacturing PMI slams 10-yr BTP futures as growth concerns magnify
• Cable falls to weekly low as manufacturing survey reveals record high stockpiling due to Brexit
• Looking ahead, highlights include, US Jobs Report, ISM Manufacturing PMI, Fed’s Kaplan
• EARNINGS: Aon, Chevron, Dominion Energy, Exxon Mobil

• USTR Lighthizer said talks with China made substantial progress but there is still much work to do
• US President Trump stated that he could meet soon with Chinese President Xi in order to finalise a potential deal
• Asian equity markets traded cautiously as disappointing Chinese data clouded over the momentum from Wall St
• Looking ahead, highlights include, French, German, UK & EZ Manufacturing PMI, EZ CPI (Flash), US Jobs...

• Major European indices trimming earnings-fueled gains seen at the open [Euro stoxx 50 -0.3%]
• Dovish Fed coupled with some ‘strong’ sell signals for month end portfolio rebalancing saw the Buck slump to new recent lows vs G10 peers
• US President Trump will meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at 15:30 EST today
• Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian GDP, ECB’s Weidmann Speaking
• EARNINGS: Celgene, General Electric, Northrop Grumman, Altria Group,...

• Fed stood pat on rates whilst indicating a willingness to adjust the pace of the balance sheet run-off, the message of patience was reiterated, language on the balance of risks was dropped
• Asian stocks were mostly higher across the board as they took impetus from their counterparts in the US
• The EU stands ready to take Brexit to a last-minute summit rather than bend the knee to demands from UK PM May, according to diplomats citing the scheduled summit on...

• European equities are mixed [Euro Stoxx 50 U/C] taking lead from the indecisive trade seen overnight as earnings season kicks into gear
• DXY meanders between 95.875-682 while AUD and GBP outperform in the G10 space
• Looking ahead, highlights include National German CPI, US ADP, FOMC Rate Decision & Press Conference
• EARNINGS: AT&T, Boeing, Mcdonald’s, Microsoft, Facebook, Qualcomm, Paypal, Visa, Tesla

• Asian stocks traded indecisively following better than expected Apple results and ahead of US-China trade talks
• UK lawmakers accepted Brady's amendment for the backstop to be replaced with an alternative arrangement and accepted Spelman's amendment that expressed objection to a no-deal Brexit
• The EU remains adamant that the withdrawal agreement or backstop is not up for renegotiation
• Looking ahead, highlights include,...

• Major European indices nursed opening loses and extended on gains Euro Stoxx 50 +0.5%], outperformance is seen in the FTSE 100
• Sterling awaits the outcome of UK Parliament’s vote on Brexit Plan B alongside amendments, but the still trades weaker vs the Euro
• Looking ahead, highlights include US Consumer Confidence, UK Parliamentary vote on Brexit 'Plan B', BoE's Haldane Speaking, US 2yr FRN & 7yr Note Auction
• EARNINGS: Advanced Micro Devices, Amgen, Apple, Verizon...

• Asian equity markets traded lower for most the session as the region followed suit to the negativity on Wall St
• The DoJ’s announcement of charges against Huawei has raised concerns about the potential impact on US-China relations
• UK PM May is said to have urged Tory MPs to back the Brady amendment which would replace the backstop with alternative arrangements
• Looking ahead, highlights include US Consumer Confidence, UK...

• Major European equities are in the red [Euro Stoxx 50 -0.5%] following on from a negative end to Asia ahead of key risk events
• USD appears to have gleaned some traction in the run up to the FOMC, US-China trade talks and NFP, while GBP underperforms ahead of the Brexit “Plan B” vote
• Looking ahead, highlights include US National Activity Index, ECB’s Draghi, BoE’s Carney, Fed’s Mester, US 2yr and 5yr Auction
• EARNINGS: Caterpillar, T...

• Asian equity markets initially began the week mostly higher, however the region later failed to hold on to early gains
• Ireland said it will not accept changes to agreement aimed at avoiding a hard border, while UK PM May reportedly told cabinet ministers privately, she will not allow Britain to exit without a deal
• US ended the government shutdown after a tentative agreement was reached on a stopgap bill to fund the government till February 15th but President Trump said he will declare an emergency...