Monthly Archives: October 2019

Trump’s China Handshake Fails to Lift Economic Gloom – Bloomberg

The pledges China and the US made to keep prospects alive for a comprehensive trade deal did little to alter the deteriorating growth outlooks for both countries because they were sealed with something economists don’t trust: a handshake.

• China September Exports, Imports in Deeper Contraction as Tariffs Bite – Reuters
• Dollar Holds Near 2-1/2-Mth High Vs Yen on Trade Progress – Reuters
• China Is Cool on Trump Trade ‘Deal’ Its Economy Still Needs – Bloomberg 
• How Hard has China Been Hit by the Trade War? – Financial Times

Day 1 of US-China Trade Talks Ends with Hopes for Limited Deal – Reuters

Top US and Chinese negotiators wrapped up a first day of trade talks in more than two months on Thursday as business groups expressed optimism the two sides might be able to ease a 15-month trade war and delay a US tariff hike scheduled for next week.

• Trade Talk Flop Would Hurt Stocks More Than Mini-Deal Would Help – Bloomberg
• China Hit by EU Tariffs as High as 66% – Bloomberg
• Trump to Meet Chinese Vice-Premier in Washington for Trade Talks – Financial Times

China Lowers Expectations for US Trade Talks After Blacklist: Officials – Reuters

Surprised and upset by the US blacklisting of Chinese companies, China has lowered expectations for significant progress from this week’s trade talks with the United States, Chinese government officials told Reuters, even as President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed fresh optimism.

• US and China Make No Progress in Two Days of Deputy-Level Talks: Sources – South China Morning Post
• US Weighing Currency Pact With China as Part of Partial Deal – Bloomberg
• US Tariffs on China are Working, says US Secretary of Commerce – Reuters

Johnson Gets Last Chance to Keep Brexit Deal Alive – The Times

Boris Johnson is fighting to salvage his Brexit deal after an explosive row with Angela Merkel put talks on the brink of collapse.

• Brexit is a Journey Without End for Britain – Financial Times
• ‘Many’ Tory MPs to Quit if it Comes to No‑Deal Brexit – The Times

HKEX Drops £32bn Bid for LSE After Charm Offensive Fails – Financial Times

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing said it would drop a £32bn offer for the London Stock Exchange Group, ending its attempt to create a global capital markets operator with a dominant position in Europe and Asia.

US Unemployment Rate Hits 50-Year Low – Financial Times

Evidence of stronger hiring over the summer and the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years were offset by signs of a slowdown in wage growth during September.

• Low Inflation? Nothing to Worry About: Fed’s George – Reuters

You Have One Week to Make a Better Offer, EU Tells Johnson – The Times

Brussels has given Boris Johnson one week to make his Brexit plan acceptable or European Union leaders will refuse to discuss it at a crucial summit this month.

• Johnson Has a Plan B for Brexit If the EU Rejects His Deal – Bloomberg 
• EU Doubts Grow Over Boris Johnson’s Brexit Offer – Financial Times

Markets on Tenterhooks as US Recession Signs Build – Reuters

A wake-up call from the US heartland has spooked Wall Street by raising fears of a recession that will push markets into a correction.

• Global Market Rout Hands FTSE 100 Worst Day Since 2016 – Financial Times

Johnson Vows Final Brexit Offer to End Stand-Off with Brussels – The Times

Boris Johnson will today make the EU what Downing Street says is his “final offer” on Brexit, including a “fair and reasonable compromise” over the Irish border.

• Brexit Plan Revealed: What Johnson Will Offer Brussels – Daily Telegraph
• Johnson Has Rolled the Diplomatic Dice, but the Rules of the EU Game are Stacked Against Him – Daily Telegraph
• EU Ready to Consider Major UK Concession on Irish Backstop – Bloomberg
• If Reported UK Brexit Proposal is Final Offer, It Won’t Fly: EU Sources – Reuters

Protester Shot in Chest with Live Police Round During Hong Kong National Day Protests – South China Morning Post

Warning shots fired according to police source as more than a quarter of MTR stations closed, along with thousands of shops and malls, as protests and disruption spread.

• Hong Kong Police Fire Water Cannon, Tear Gas as Protests Spread – Reuters