JPY crosses spiked lower in a.................>

FOREX: JPY crosses spiked lower in a holiday-thinned trade, seemingly on no news

or data catalysts. USD/JPY dipped through a technical bear trigger at Y106.65,

which represents the low of Jul 10. Markets are on the lookout for a potential

announcement of a retaliatory closure of a U.S. consulate in China/HK/Macau.

- Demand for JPY applied pressure for the greenback, which landed at the bottom

of the G10 score board. The DXY is yet to test yesterday's YtD low.

- Sterling has traded on a softer footing from the off, as the latest round of

the UK's trade talks with the EU failed to bring any breakthrough, with the

year-end deadline of the transition period looming.

- AUD & NOK have fared relatively well thus far, even as oil holds steady.

- Focus moves to preliminary trade data out of Australia, UK retail sales, U.S.

new home sales and flash PMI readings from the U.S., UK & EZ.