US equities staged a strong rebound overnight with DJIA closed up 241.79 pts, or 1.39% at 17615.17. The rebound put the index back above 55 weeks EMA and a key near term fibonacci level at 17397. As we mentioned again, there are risks of medium term reversal but then again, US stocks were supported around 17400 and recovered. There is still a lack of follow through selling for confirming bearish developments. It's reported that sentiments were lifted after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKa) agreed to acquire Precision Castparts Corp (NYSE:PCP), which is a aerospace and energy equipment maker. Meanwhile, Fed vice chair Stanley Fischer said that he'd prefer to see inflation returning to more normal level before hiking interest rates. Nonetheless, he also said that a "large part" of the current very low inflation is "temporary" due to oil and commodity prices.
Sterling was lifted by comments from BoE policy maker David Miles and recovered much of last week's losses. Miles noted that was "reasonable arguments" for the central bank to hike rate in the MPC meeting last week. and "there was a case for beginning the journey now". Firstly, he noted that the overall path of tightening is more important than the timing of the first hike. Secondly, he noted that inflation will be around the 2% target in 2-3 years' time. Hence, he raised the point that if BoE want to get to 2.5-3.0% in 2.5 to 3 years, there would be an overall of 200 to 250 basis points of increase. The longer BoE waits for starting the cycle, "the slightly more steep that trajectory becomes".
In China, PBoC surprised the markets by lowering the yuan's fixing by -1.9% from the previous trading day. That leaves the fixing at 6.2298 to USD comparing to 6.1162 yesterday. PBoC noted that the move aimed at countering sharp slowdown in exports, which dropped -8.3% yoy to July. The announcement dragged Australian dollar against the US dollar.
On the data front, UK BRC retail sales monitor rose 1.2% yoy in July. Australian business confidence dropped to 4 in July. Japan M2+ CD rose 4.1% yoy in July. German ZEW economic sentiment will be the main focus in European session. US will release non-farm productivity and wholesale inventories. Canada will release housing starts.