Gilt futures remain under pressure.....>

GILT SUMMARY: Gilt futures remain under pressure amid continued optimism that a

Brexit deal may be reached soon.

- Dec 18 futures down 25 ticks at 119.71, off low of 119.69. The curve is a

little steeper with 2-Yr yield up 3bps at 0.911%, 5-Yr up 3.6bps at 1.28%, 10-Yr

up 4bps at 1.714%, and 30-Yr up 3.5bps at 2.033%.

- Short Sterling a little weaker, off 1-2 ticks.

- Northern Ireland DUP leader Arlene Foster said that a deal is `eminently

possible' in the coming weeks, though the usual `red lines` appear to still be

drawn on internal UK borders.

- Some cold water being thrown on the optimism by ex-Brexit junior minister

Steve Baker, who said at least 40 Conservatives are willing to vote against a

'half in, half out` Chequers plan. Commons is back in session this morning.

- UK retail sales declined for the first time in five months in Sep on a

like-for-like basis, the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG survey

showed. Could bolster MNI's analysis that the UK consumer may weaken after

one-off factors this summer.