MNI Global Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - The UK doesn't let up with the data on Thursday, as the

third out four ONS releases this week sees September retail sales published at

0830GMT. Initial jobless claims data is released in the U.S. at 1230GMT and the

final data point of interest is the consumer price index in Japan at 2330GMT.

     BOJ Osaka branch manager Yasuhiro Yamanda is speaking at 0615GMT.

     After growing by 0.3% m/m in August, analysts anticipate a calming in

retail sales to -0.4% m/m. This would still not be enough to stop retail sales

posting positive sales growth for Q3.

     The level of initial jobless claims is expected to fall by only 1,000 to a

213,000 level in the October 13 employment survey week after an increase of

7,000 to a still-low 214,000 level in the previous week. While the impact of

Hurricane Florence should continue to move out of the data, Hurricane Michael

hit Florida on October 10 and should lift initial claims further and impact the

survey week for payrolls. The four-week moving average would rise by 2,750 in

the coming week as the recent low 202,000 level in the September 15 employment

survey week rolls out of the calculation, assuming the MNI forecast is correct

and there are no revisions.

     New York Federal Reserve Bank senior vice president Richard Peach in Fort

Lee, New Jersey and St.Louis Federal Reserve Bank president James Bullard

speaking in Memphis, Tennessee, starting at 1300GMT.

     At 1615GMT US Federal Reserve Bank Vice chairman Randal K. Qarles speaks at

a New York luncheon.

     Japan's core national CPI y/y is expected to move upwards to 1.0% from 0.9%

previously.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com