- Modest schedule of statistics unlikely to have much impact as market
tone sours; digesting UK BRC Retail Sales, Oz Retail Sales, German
Orders and as expected no change RBA; busier day for govt bond sales
and more corporate earnings; ECB/Fed speak and Brexit talks
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** EVENTS PREVIEW **
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The day's schedule is not without its points of interest, but whether it can geneuinely impinge on the current bout of markets navel-gazing at their own internal (meltdown?) dynamics is doubtful. Be that as it may the next round of UK/EU Brexit talks gets under way, even though the UK's negotiating position appears of the variety 'we don't know what we really want, but it has to be fantastic dah-ling'. Elsehwere there is central bank speak from ECB's Weidmann and Fed's Bullard, though it is doubtful that either will offer any materially fresh insights. Statistically, the highlights look to be among the overnight run of UK BRC Retail Sales, Australia Retail Sales / Trade Balance and German Factory Orders, with the US Trade data really only of interest for any revisions to the Goods balance (above all in terms of Q4 GDP revisions), while the JOLTS JObs Openings will likely reaffirm the obvious strength of US labour demand. In corporate earnings terms, the headlines are likely to come via way of Toyota, BNP Paribas, BP, Anadarko Petroleum, Gilead Sciences, Snap and Walt Disney. There is no doubting that the recent rise in bond yields has fashioned a notable concession for today's run of govt bond sales that will see the US kick off its 'quarterly refunding' with $26.0 Bln of 3-yr, which will be preceded by EUR 1.38 Bln total of 5 & 10 yr from Austria, EUR 1.0 Bln of 2026 Inflation-Linked Bunds and the likely launch of the syndicated sales of UK 2048 Index-Linked Gilts.
from Marc Ostwald