Johnson Wants to Pass Brexit Deal in a Week but EU is Poised for Delay – The Times

Boris Johnson believes that he “has the numbers” to ram his deal through the Commons by the end of the week, although the EU is preparing to delay Brexit until February if he fails.

Financial Markets Face Fresh Wave of Political Uncertainty: ‘There’s Literally Nowhere to Hide’ – Wall Street Journal

The UK Parliament’s decision to postpone a final vote on the country’s exit from the European Union marks the latest geopolitical development likely to swing financial markets, highlighting the extreme levels of uncertainty that some investors worry isn’t being properly accounted for. 

China Braces for Economic Growth to Fall Below 6% – Bloomberg

China’s policy makers are preparing for two key policy meetings in the coming weeks with fresh evidence that sooner rather than later, the number for gross domestic product growth will start with a 5.

Policymakers’ Fears of a Global Recession Grow – Financial Times

Publicly, finance ministers and central bank governors have held off on raising fears that a global recession is coming — but in private, international and national officials are not nearly so certain.

EU’s Incoming Economy Chief Calls For Less Restrictive Budget Policies – Reuters

The European Union needs looser budgetary policies and an overhaul of its fiscal rulebook, the bloc’s designated economics commissioner said.

PBOC Governor Yi Says Yuan Level ‘Appropriate’ After Weakening – Bloomberg

People’s Bank of China Governor Yi Gang said the yuan is at an “appropriate level” and cross-border capital flows have stayed balanced since the currency weakened past 7 per dollar in early August.

Japan’s Exports Slip for 10th Month, Builds Pressure on BOJ to Ease – Reuters

Japan’s exports contracted for a 10th straight month in September, raising speculation the central bank could ease monetary policy as soon as next week to counter heightening overseas risks and a slowdown in demand.

Incoming ECB Chief Lagarde Says Trump Can Unlock Uncertainty – Bloomberg

Incoming European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said President Donald Trump’s trade war with China has dented global economic growth, and he could lift that burden.

In the FICC of It – Profit & Loss

FX volatility, quantum computing and further potential problems with last look are on the agenda for this week’s podcast.

Regulatory News

Libor Rigging Inquiry Shut Down by Serious Fraud Office – BBC

An investigation into the rigging of Libor, the benchmark interest rate that tracks the cost of borrowing cash, has been unexpectedly closed.

Post-Crisis Rules Roil US Cross-Currency Basis: IMF – Risk

Banking reforms brought in after the financial crisis have made it more expensive for non-US banks to access dollar funding via derivatives, especially at quarter-end, analysis by the International Monetary Fund shows.

No Place for Unelected Central Bankers – Australian Financial Review

Those of us of an older vintage will remember when the Bank of Japan introduced the zero interest rate policy in 1999 and back then it was seen as revolutionary, but also as a temporary move to help restore the fortunes of the Japanese economy.

7 Questions For MarketAxess’ GC For Europe And Asia – Law360

Miranda Morad, MarketAxess’ general counsel for Europe and Asia, talks to Law360 about the changing relationship between legal and compliance, the different career routes available to attorneys seeking senior positions, and the burgeoning role of technology in her sector.

Crypto News

Facebook Open to Currency-Pegged Stablecoins for Libra Project – Reuters

Facebook Inc, facing growing scepticism about its digital currency project Libra, on Sunday said the initiative could use cryptocurrencies based on national currencies such as the dollar, instead of the synthetic one it initially proposed.

Libra Is ‘Neat Idea That’ll Never Happen,’ Dimon Says – Bloomberg

Count the chief of the biggest U.S. bank among doubters of Facebook Inc.’s effort to create a cryptocurrency. “It was a neat idea that’ll never happen,” JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said on a panel at a conference hosted by the Institute of International Finance in Washington.

A G7 Stablecoin Report That Tells It How It Is – Financial Times

The G7 report into the impact of global stablecoins was published, and by and large it’s a very sensible account of the challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Why Central Bankers Got Serious About Digital Cash – Bloomberg Businessweek

What central banks once sneered at, they’re now scrambling to master

With 18 Million Bitcoins Mined, How Hard Is That 21 Million Limit? – Coin Desk

In a matter of hours, the 18 millionth bitcoin will have been mined and the world’s first cryptocurrency will draw one step closer to its hard-coded cap of 21 million coins.

Company News

Thomson Reuters Begins Search for New Chief Executive – Financial Times

Thomson Reuters has begun the search for a chief executive to succeed Jim Smith, who has led the $34bn professional information group since 2012. 

LSE Searches for New CFO Ahead of Refinitiv Integration – Financial News

The London Stock Exchange has revealed a series of management changes as it prepares to integrate the US data company Refinitiv, with the bourse prioritising completion of the $27bn acquisition next year.

Big US Bank Profits Show They Can Take a Punch from Low Rates – Financial Times

What did we learn from the avalanche of big US bank earnings this week? That the industry can take a hard punch — from interest rates falling to historic lows — and remain up on its feet.

Morgan Stanley Eyes Prime Brokerage Growth as Others Exit – FOW

Deutsche Bank has exited the prime space, creating opportunity for Morgan Stanley and rivals.

UBS Cutting 40 Banking Jobs in Asia – Straits Times

UBS Group is cutting about 40 jobs in the Asia-Pacific as part of a global push to trim costs and combine its trading units, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Rokos Restructures Firm in Bid to Improve Performance – Financial Times

Chris Rokos, the former star trader who made headlines when he broke away from Brevan Howard seven years ago, is shaking up the way his firm manages its $9.2bn in assets as performance lags some of its nearest rivals.

Market Savvy

Pound Slips as Traders Weigh Johnson’s Next Move on Brexit – Financial Times

Sterling slipped early on Monday after a Commons defeat at the weekend left Boris Johnson scrambling to push through his Brexit deal over the next few days.

Will the ECB Backlash Spoil Draghi’s Farewell? – Financial Times

Mario Draghi gives his final performance as president of the European Central Bank on Thursday amid open divisions over the future path of monetary policy.

Emerging-Market Currency Rally Hinges on Turkey and Argentina – Bloomberg

Emerging-market currencies are winning fans again as the dollar wobbles, but their resilience will be tested during what’s shaping up to be a pivotal week.

ECB’s Vasle Urges Fiscal Policy Action to Boost Economy – Reuters The current challenging global economic conditions demand broad macroeconomic policy actions in the euro zone and not just monetary policy actions, ECB Governing Council member Bostjan Vasle said.