• An upbeat tone was observed across Asia-Pac majors heading into the weekend, which followed the mostly positive performance of their global peers
• DUP party is said to have privately agreed they will back PM May's Brexit deal when she toughens it up in terms of the backstop being specifically time limited
• US Senate blocked 2 competing proposals to end the government shutdown including one backed by US President Trump; as expected
...

• Major European equities are in the green [Euro Stoxx 50 +0.7%] with outperformance in Italian banks on ECB day
• DXY firmer this morning after EUR was dented by disappointing PMIs
• Looking ahead, highlights include US Flash PMI's, ECB Rate Decision, US Jobless Claims, BoE's Carney, Riksbank's Skingsley
• EARNINGS: American Electric Power Co, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Freeport-McMoRan, Intel, Norfolk Southern Co, Starbucks, Union Pacific, Western Digital, Discover Financial Services,...

• Most Asian bourses eventually followed suit to the gains stateside where the DJIA led the majors higher
• US President Trump said talks are going well with China but added that tariffs could increase if no deal is reached
• Nearly 20 UK ministers have reportedly been conducting a secret meeting in Parliament to discuss plans to avert a no-deal Brexit
• Looking ahead, highlights include French, German, EZ and US Flash PMI's, Norges...

• European equities nursed opening losses and moved into positive territory as risk sentiment improved
• DXY trades within a relatively tight range while GBP extends gains on hopes for an Article 50 extension
• Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Retail Sales, EZ Consumer Confidence (flash) and weekly API inventories
• EARNINGS: Abbott Laboratories, Kimberly-Clark Corp, Procter & Gamble, Progressive, Texas Instruments, Ford Motor, Raytheon, Comcast...

• Expectations unanimously are set on an unchanged rate of 0.75%, with focus set on the accompanying statement
• HSBC cite lower global rate expectations as one of the major stumbling points for the Norges Bank’s rate path
• ING do not believe that this will be enough to stop the March hike amid recovering oil prices and the prosperous local economy.

• Asian equity markets were choppy as the region attempted to shrug off the headwinds from Wall St
• US reportedly turned down an offer by China for 2 vice-ministers to travel to the US for preparatory trade talks; later denied by Kudlow
• UK PM May is reportedly set to force ministers to keep a no deal Brexit on the table despite threats of ministerial resignations
• Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Retail Sales, EZ Consumer...

• European equities are in the red [Euro Stoxx 50 -0.6%] as risk sentiment continues to deteriorate
• US-Sino tensions heighten as China vows to retaliate if Huawei Executive Meng is extradited
• Looking ahead, highlights include US Existing Homes Sales, New Zealand CPI
• Earnings: Capital One Financial, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Travelers Companies, United Technologies and Prologis

• Asian equity markets were negative as the region lacked impetus following the non-existent lead from the US
• UK Conservative Party lawmaker Rudd warned PM May she could face dozens of ministerial resignations next week if Tory MPs are banned from voting for a plan that helps stop a no-deal Brexit
• UK opposition Labour Party leader Corbyn has given in to pressure from party members and MPs by endorsing a plan to force a second EU referendum
...

• Asian equity markets began the week higher as the region followed suit to the optimism seen last Friday amongst the US majors
• Overnight data releases saw Chinese Q4 GDP print in-line with expectations, whilst retail sales and IP exceeded forecasts
• US Trade Representative Lighthizer said US and China are making little progress regarding intellectual property issues
• UK PM May halted the cross-party approach to Brexit last night as...

Mon: Germany Gfk Consumer Confidence, China GDP & Retail Sales

• Major European equities are firmly in the green amidst positive trade updates [Euro Stoxx 50 +1.6%] with the IT and financial sector outperforming
• Table turns for the Pound after yesterday’s climb as Cable straddles just below 1.2950
• Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian CPI, US industrial production and University of Michigan sentiment, weekly Baker Hughes rig count, Fed’s Williams and Harker
• EARNINGS: State Street

• Asian equity markets traded higher across the board as the region took impetus from Wall St where the major indices were lifted on hopes of easing trade tensions
• FX markets were relatively quiet with the DXY flat around the 96.00 level as its major counterparts consolidated, while antipodeans found some support from the heightened risk appetite
• Northern Irish DUP Party indicated that they would be open to a Norway-style deal if it removed the threat of a backstop
• Looking ahead,...

• European indices are mostly in the red, albeit off worst levels as risk sentiment soured following an indecisive Asia-Pac session
• Choppy DXY amid rising tensions between US and China regarding Huawei’s prosecution and chip sale ban
• Looking ahead, highlights include US Initial Jobless Claims & Philly Fed Business Index, BoE's Carney, Fed's Quarles Speaking, UK 2024 Gilt
• EARNINGS: American Express, Morgan Stanley, Netflix

Asian equity markets were choppy throughout the session but eventually followed suit to the gains on Wall St

• Major European equities are mixed after trimming opening gains [Euro Stoxx 50 Unch] with outperformance seen in the Italian benchmark
• DXY reclaimed the 96.000 handle while the Pound stabilises in the aftermath of May’s parliamentary defeat
• Looking ahead, highlights include US Import & Export Prices, Fed's Kashkari, ECB's de Galhau, UK PM May’s vote of no confidence
• Earnings: Goldman Sachs

• UK PM May’s Brexit deal was defeated by 230 votes (432 vs. 202) in Parliament
• UK Leader of the opposition Labour party Corbyn called for a vote of no confidence in the government
• UK Government ministers told business leaders that there is a backbench motion being prepared to delay Article 50 and said the no confidence motion will fail
• Looking ahead, highlights include UK CPI, US Import & Export Prices, BoE's Carney, Fed's Kashkari, ECB's Stournaras & de...

• Major European indices are relatively flat [Euro Stoxx 50 +0.1%] as equity markets gave up initial gains post German FY GDP
• Choppy session for the Pound thus far as traders eye the long-awaited House of Commons meaningful vote scheduled for later today (full schedule available on the headline feed)
• Looking ahead, highlights include US NY Fed Manufacturing & Final PPI, Fed Discount Minutes, UK Parliament vote on the Brexit deal, ECB's Draghi, Fed's Kashkari, Kaplan & George
...

• Asian equity markets were mostly higher as sentiment in the region recovered from the recent China-triggered weakness
• UK PM May allies said that German Chancellor Merkel has offered PM May certain last-minute assistance, while reports also noted that PM May is considering a 2nd vote on Brexit deal if first one is rejected
• UK cabinet ministers suggested that PM May will be expected to stand down if she is heavily defeated in the Brexit vote, according to source report
• Looking ahead,...

• Major European Indices are in the red [Euro Stoxx 50 -1.0%], with poor performance in luxury names as China exports/imports miss forecasts
• Chinese trade numbers weigh on the CNY, AUD, NZD while providing impetus to the JPY
• GBP/USD largely unreactive to the EU assurances letter as MPs seek legally-binding material ahead of tomorrow’s meaningful vote
• Looking ahead, highlights include earnings from Citi, while US data has been postponed due to the US government...

• Asian equity markets began the week subdued following the indecisive close on Wall St, US Government Shutdown and disappointing Chinese trade data
• UK PM May is to say she believes parliament will more likely block Brexit than the UK leave without a deal
• UK Cabinet Ministers are reportedly exploring "Plan B" options with PM May expected to lose her Brexit vote on Jan 15
• Separate reports suggest that Pro-EU MPs are to...

• Major European indices are mixed [Euro Stoxx 50 Unch], having pared back some of the initial gains from the open
• DXY on the backfoot further below 95.500 as the Fed signalled a more patient approach ahead of the US CPI release
• GBP spiked higher on reports of possible Brexit date, though these reports were later dismissed by a PM May spokesperson
• Looking ahead, highlights include US CPI, Real Weekly Earnings, Baker Hughes rig count

• Asian equity markets traded mostly higher following the 5th consecutive session of gains on Wall Street
• In FX markets, the DXY pared some of the prior day’s gains which has provided some reprieve for its major counterparts across the pond
• Fed Chair Powell repeated that the Fed has the ability to be patient given the inflation data and has the ability to be patient and flexible rates
• Looking ahead, highlights include UK GDP...

• Major European equities are in the red [Euro Stoxx 50 -0.4%] following on from the mixed performance seen in Asia on the lack of US-China trade clarity
• DXY is on a firmer footing above 95.250 ahead of a plethora of key Fed speakers
• Looking ahead, highlights include, US Initial Jobless Claims, Fed's Powell, Bullard, Evans & Clarida and ECB's de Galhau

• Asian stocks were mixed as the equity rally somewhat stalled overnight which momentarily saw all regional bourses in negative territory
• FOMC Minutes stated that many policy makers said the Fed could be patient about further tightening given muted inflation pressures
• UK Labour leader Corbyn is to reiterate his call for a general election today to break the Brexit deadlock, if PM May's deal is voted down in the House of Commons on January...

• Major European indices are in the green [Euro Stoxx 50 +0.8%] as market sentiment remains fixated around the recently concluded US-China trade talks
• US-Sino trade talks are understood to have been positive and the two sides are to release a message at the same time Thursday morning Beijing time
• The greenback eases further below 96.000 amid trade optimism with the third day of trade talks giving off somewhat of an upbeat vibe
• Office for Management and Budget (OMB) is exploring if US...