Consolidation through Asia as rate held.......>

CABLE: Consolidation through Asia as rate held within a relatively tight range

of $1.2919-35, currently trading around $1.2923. Sterling has maintained an

underlying buoyant tone, since its positive reaction Wednesday to reported

comments from a German lawmaker concerning Brexit, the reaction had seen rate

spike up to $1.2983, boosting its recovery off this week's low of $1.2786. Rate

did fall back to $1.2873 but for the main part has sat comfortably back above

$1.2900 since. Market positioning continues to suggest that rate more likely to

react more to a softening tone in Brexit negotiations than to harder tone.

Brexit headline watch remains to the fore. Domestic data calendar seen light

with main attention set on today's release of the US Employment Report. Market

median 195k though this may have been read down following the weaker than

expected ADP data released Thursday. A weaker number could place pressure on the

USD, more so than a strong number to boost. Cable resistance seen at Thursday's

high of $1.2962 ahead of Wednesday's high of $1.2983. Support remains into

$1.2900, a break to expose $1.2873.