A pick-up in off'l Chinese PMIs from over.....>

FOREX: A pick-up in off'l Chinese PMIs from over the weekend fuelled appetite

for riskier assets, outweighing several press reports pointing to obstacles in

U.S.-China trade talks. Of note was the m'fing gauge's return to expansion after

a multi-month hiatus. A beat in Caixin m'fing PMI helped sustain the enthusiasm.

- The Antipodeans were bid at the cost of safe havens. NZD took the lead after

the local terms of trade index proved stronger than forecast. Australian data

was, for the most part, underwhelming but AUD lagged only its Antipodean peer. 

- NOK firmed up alongside oil prices amid speculation ahead of this week's OPEC

summit. CAD failed to follow suit, remained soft through the session.

- Sterling started on a softer note & remained limited as the most recent

election polls indicated that the Tory lead has shrunk.

- KRW rose a tad as softer than expected South Korean trade balance and CPI

failed to offset the impact of better sentiment.

- On the data front, m'fing PMI surveys remain in focus with readings from the

U.S. & across the EZ due. Comments are awaited from ECB Pres Lagarde, as well as

her colleagues Rehn & Holzmann.