Asian markets opened the day mildly lower and stays soft after China trade data. Trade surplus widened to USD 60.3b in September, much larger than expectation of USD 46.9b. Exports dropped for the third consecutive months, by -3.7% yoy. Meanwhile, import dropped for the 11th straight month, by -20.4% yoy. Over the weekend, the PBoC announced fresh stimulus measures to extend the pilot program on bank lending what allowed banks to pledge assets to secure the central bank's landing. The program will be expanded from two to nine provinces including Shanghai and Beijing.
Fed governor Lael Brainard urged FOMC to hold off from rate hike until the risks to recovery from global developments are cleared. She viewed that "the risks to the economic outlook as tilted to the downside". And those risks "make a strong case for continuing to carefully nurture the US recovery - and argue against prematurely taking away the support that has been so critical to its vitality." Chicago Fed president Charles Evans said that it's "way too early" to judge warrant a hike in December. But he noted that " the best choice is middle of 2016 until I see data that are stronger that lead me to have more confidence in inflation."
ECB governing council member Vitas Vasiliauskas said that there is "no need" for additional stimulus measures. And, there isn't any need for "additional fine-tuning" of the quantitative easing program. He said the current program is working and the "best evidence of effectiveness" could be seen through the lending channel. And, Eurozone economy is "in better shape" and the main challenges is "related with international factors".
Elsewhere, UK BRC sales monitor rose 2.6% in September. Australia NAB business confidence rose to 5 in September. Looking ahead, Japan will release consumer confidence and machine tools orders. Inflation data will be a main focus in European session. Germany will release CPI final, Swiss will release CPI. UK will also release CPI and PPI. In addition, Germany will release ZEW economic sentiment.