MNI Global Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - At 0745GMT the release of the French consumer sentiment will

be closely watched. The highlight in Italy is the publication of the consumer

confidence at 0900GMT. In the UK, the CBI Distributive Trades survey is awaited

at 1100GMT. The release of the trade balance in the U.S. at 1230GMT is also

worth noting.

     The consumer sentiment index in France was 95 in February and the MNI

median expects the index to improve to 96. In Italy ISTAT consumer confidence

came in at 112.4 in February and is anticipated to decline slightly to 112.2.

Februarys' reading of the CBI sales reported balance was 0 and the number is

expected to increase to 3.5.

     The international trade gap is expected to narrow slightly to a still large

$57.5 billion in January after a sharp widening to $59.8 billion in December,

still suggesting a large drag for Q1 from net exports. There were no advance

trade data released this month.

     Wednesday is busy in terms of central bank speeches. At 0030GMT Boston Fed

President Eric Rosengren gives a speech in Hong Kong. At 0800GMT ECB President

Mario Draghi participates in a conference in Frankfurt and ECB Governing Council

member Ewald Nowotny speaks in Vienna. ECB Executive Board member Peter Praet

participates in conference in Frankfurt at 0845GMT.

     ECB Supervisory Board member Pentti Hakkarainen speaks at 0930GMT in

Stockholm and ECB Executive Board member Sabine Lautenschlager participates in a

panel discussion in Vienna at 1000GMT. At 1045GMT ECB Vice-President Luis de

Guindos speaks in Frankfurt and at 1330GMT ECB Executive Board member Yves

Mersch participates in a debate at the same conference. At 1700GMT Riksbank Gov.

Stefan Ingves gives a lecture in Stockholm. In the US Kansas City Fed President

Esther George gives a speech in New York at 2300GMT.

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