Gilts have opened a touch higher with yield...>

GILTS: Gilts have opened a touch higher with yield curve ever so slightly

flatter as the short-end remains relatively anchored, however, markets are

lacking direction and can easily shift position. 10-yr Gilt yield is 0.9bp lower

at 1.225% according to Tradeweb.

- Asian markets were relatively quiet and haven't given much for markets to go

on. There was Talk of US President Trump giving negotiators more time to strike

NAFTA deal has and comments from UK Foreign Secretary Hunt that "Britain would

survive and prosper without a Brexit deal" has not material impacted on FI

markets so far this morning.

- No data from the UK today so attention likely to be on Eurozone final

inflation data any comments on trade from officials. Brexit negotiations

continue in Brussels today and there is a small possibility that Michel Barnier

might give a brief press conference afterwards.

- Short sterling futures are steady to 1 tick higher, although strip looks to be

bull steepening as move higher is concentrated in the front end