After a somewhat positive start to the........>

FOREX: After a somewhat positive start to the session following a sanguine

Asia-Pac session, risk appetite took a turn lower ahead of the US close on

several votes in UK parliament that marked the first time in living memory that

lawmakers have found the government in contempt of parliament. PM May went on to

lose several more votes in the Commons, weakening her hand materially. GBP slid

sharply across the board on the news, touching 18-month lows.

-This, allied with US Sec. of State Pompeo starting the clock on a 60-day

deadline on Russia to comply with nuclear weapon rules in the INF treaty knocked

sentiment across the board, underpinning an impressive JPY and USD rally in the

second half of the US session. AUD's retreat puts AUD/USD in close proximity to

closing the opening gap posted since the weekend's positive trade news.

-Services and composite PMIs from Japan, the Eurozone and the UK as well as the

Bank of Canada rate decision draw focus Wednesday. US markets are largely closed

as the US marks a day of mourning for George HW Bush.