DXY last 96.40, virtually unch. on the.......>

DOLLAR: DXY last 96.40, virtually unch. on the day, after adding 32 pips

yesterday. WTI last trades ~0.5% lower, while gold is unch. 

- Nita Lowey, the top Democratic negotiator in bipartisan talks to avoid another

gov't shutdown, said yesterday that she predicts an agreement will be reached by

the end of this week. This came after U.S. President Trump reiterated his demand

for funding a wall on the Mexican border in his SoTU address. 

- Fed Chair Powell avoided policy references in his today's address, but

highlighted that the U.S. economy is in a good place. 

- DXY bulls look to 96.43, where the dollar index peaked yesterday, before

challenging the Jan 25 high of 96.53. Meanwhile, bears eye the 50-DMA at 96.38

and a break below would set their sights on the 100-DMA at 96.22. 

- U.S. focus today turns to initial jobless claims, as well as remarks from

Fed's Kaplan & Clarida.