MNI US Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - There is a full data calendar on both sides of the Atlantic

Thursday, but the start of the Kansas City Fed's annual Jackson Hole Symposium

could garner most of the afternoon headlines.

     Across the Atlantic, the US calendar kicks off at 0830ET, with the release

of the latest Jobless Claims numbers.

     The level of initial jobless claims is expected to rise by 3,000 to 235,000

in the August 19 week after a 12,000 decline in the previous week. The four-week

moving average, which has declines for three straight weeks, would fall by 2,500

in the coming week as the 245,000 level in the July 22 week drops out of the

drops out of the calculation, assuming the MNI forecast is correct and there are

no revisions.

     The Canadian Quarterly financial statistics for enterprises will be

released at the same time.

     Back on the Continent, the BNB Business Sentiment index will be released at

1000ET.

     US data expected at 1000ET includes the latest Building permits revisions

and the NAR existing home sales numbers.

     The pace of existing home sales is expected to rise to a 5.55 million

annual rate in July after falling by 1.8% in June. Sales were up 3.3% from a

year earlier before seasonal adjustment. Pending home sales rose 1.5% in June,

suggesting existing home sales could see a rebound in July. Supply fell 0.5% in

June and was down 7.1% from a year earlier, an indication of that supply

shortage continues.

     The latest Natural Gas Stocks data is expected at 1030ET, ahead of the

Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index at 1100ET.

     The latest Fed weekly M2 Money Supply Data will be released at 1630ET.

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