MNI Global Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - The three key releases to end the week are the November Euro

Area current account data at 0900GMT, December UK retail sales at 0930GMT and

December Canada CPI at 1330GMT.

     The Euro Area current account was EUR23.0 bn in October.

     ECB Executive Board member Benoit Coeure participates in the G20 Finance

Ministers and Central Bank Governors Deputies meeting in Tokyo, Japan.

     Retail sales in the UK were up by 1.4% m/m in November. This was a result

of Black Friday. However, it's worth noting that over the past four years that

UK retailers have incorporated Black Friday, the ONS has revised its initial

reading by an average of 0.8pp. Furthermore, the December survey data has all

been very weak which signals not only a weakened revised November but a weak

December. The MNI median points to -0/8% m/m in December.

     In Canada, the headline CPI rate was 1.7% in November and is predicted by

the MNI median to remain unchanged at 1.7% in December.

     New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams speaking in Somerset,

New Jersey from 1405GMT.

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