Market Pulse - Currencies
Tesla jumps after China grants purchase tax exemption on 16 models
Shares in Tesla were up on Friday after China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that it would exempt 16 of the US car manufacturer's electric vehicle models from its purchase tax.
Xi Jinping rejects Philippines' territorial claims in South China Sea
Chinese President Xi Jinping rejected Filipino claims to territory in the South China Sea in a bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday.
BofA-ML sees 'contrarian' signal to buy shares, despite risk of bond bubble bursting
A widely-followed market timing indicator flipped into a 'buy' signal on Thursday, pointing to better than even odds, albeit not by much, of a near-term rally in stocks, although bonds were most likely set for a correction.
UK lending to individuals and businesses softens in July
Lending to UK consumers and businesses slowed further in July, although mortgage lending held up.
ECB's Lautenschlager argues against restarting QE
Sabine Lautenschlager became the third member in as many days at the end of the week to argue against the European Central Bank restarting its quantitative easing programme, saying that there were no signs yet of deflation and warning of the risk of 'moral hazard' by setting the wrong incentives for governments.
UK inflation expectations hit six-year high in August, poll shows
Britons' inflation expectations hit a six-year high in the likely run-up to the UK's exit from the European Union, the results of a widely-followed survey showed.
House prices grow less than 1% for ninth month in a row
Annual house price growth across the UK remained below 1% for a ninth consecutive month in August as political and economic uncertainties weighed on potential buyers.
China lodges protest over new US tariffs but refrains from immediate response
China lodged a formal protest against the latest round of trade tariffs announced by the US but said that for the moment being it would refrain from a like-for-like response, although a meeting between trade officials from both sides in September had yet to be confirmed.
No confidence vote and early UK elections still most likely scenario, ING says
Westminster's decision to to suspend Parliament meant the withdrawal process would go down to the wire, raising the odds of the UK crashing out of the European Union without a deal "slightly", but a no-confidence vote that led to another Article 50 extension and new elections remained the most likely outcome - but only "narrowly" - analysts at ING said.
Former HSBC banker cleared in €1.6bn tax fraud case
A former executive from HSBC's private Swiss bank has been cleared three years after French authorities charged him with helping clients hide assets worth at least €1. 6bn (£1. 45bn).
US durable goods orders boosted by aircraft in July
Orders for civilian and military aircraft and parts lifted US durable goods orders last month.
M5S halts coalition talks, demands Conte stay as PM
The Five Star Party (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD) have reached an impasse in their talks to craft a new coalition government over whether to choose Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister once again.
Wall Street reels after US President says he will respond to Chinese counter-tariffs
Wall Street was left reeling at the end of the week after the US President upped the ante in his trade war with China following Beijing's decision to retaliate against the latest measures threatened by Washington.
Week ahead: US-China trade, German data in focus
The focus over the coming week will likely continue to be squarely on the US-China trade war, with investors trying to digest Washington's likely next move in the 'tit-for-tat' trade war even as negotiators from both sides continue to hold consultations ahead of another round of face-to-face talks in September.
Monetary policy may not be ideal tool against trade disruptions, Fed's Powell says
Monetary policy might not be the best tool to address the impact of trade wars, although it might help to offset some of their effects, which might prove to be transitory, the head of the world's most important central bank, the US Federal Reserve, said.
Mattarella gives PD and M5S until Wednesday to form a coalition
Italian President Sergio Mattarella has given rivals the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement until Wednesday to form a new coalition government or face elections in October, unless Five Star leader Di Maio accepted the last minute offer from the League party to take the premiership in exchange for a reconciliation.
FX round-up: Traders rush to cover some shorts on Sterling 'just in case'
Traders were forced to cover some of their short positions against the pound after the French President appeared to leave the door open to a possible solution of the Irish Backstop question, which might suffice to avoid a disorderly withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.
Pound snaps higher as Macron backs month of Brexit talks
The pound snapped higher on Thursday afternoon after France's President, Emmanuel Macron, added his weight to proposals from the day before to try and find a solution to the Irish Backstop question over the next month and avoid the UK falling out of the European Union without a withdrawal agreement.
Volkswagen denies claims it is interested in Tesla stake
Volkswagen on Thursday denied a media report that the German carmaker was looking to purchase a stake in electric car manufacturer Tesla.
Fed's Harker does not see need for more stimulus right now
At least a second top US central bank official argued in favour of staying put on interest rates on Thursday.