Fed's Powell sounding/looking pretty upbeat.....>

FED: Fed's Powell sounding/looking pretty upbeat in opening comments on the

economic outlook.  USD responding by inching higher while Treasury futures

reverse off the highs:

Q re global economic slowdown.

A: US economy 'in a good place'. Most likely outlook favourable. All that said,

significant risks, including slowing global growth, trade uncertainty,

persistently low inflation. Consumer/services have been strong. Manufacturing /

investment / trade weaker. Labour market in 'quite a strong position'. Today's

jobs report 'very much consistent with that story'. And inflation moving back up

to 2%. Lower rates have kept the outlook favourable. Will continue to act as

appropriate to sustain the expansion.