MNI US Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - Across the Atlantic, the calendar gets underway at 0700ET,

with the release of the MBA weekly applications index. At the same time, UK PM

Theresa May will take questions at the weekly PMQs session.

     At 0800ET, Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic speaks

during a Fireside Chat to the Broward Workshop in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with

audience and media Q&A.

     The ADP Employment Report will be published at 0815ET, with the Non-Farm

Productivity and trade balance data expected at 0830ET.

     The international trade gap is expected to widen to $55.1 billion in

January from a $53.1 billion gap in December. The advance estimate of the Census

goods trade gap widened further to $74.4 billion, with exports down 2.2% and

imports down only 0.5%.

     Nonfarm productivity is expected to be unrevised at a 0.1% decline, as the

output component was virtually unrevised, but the gain in hours worked should be

revised lower. Unit labor costs are expected to be revised up to a 2.1% pace of

growth.

     At the same time, Canadian Labour Productivity and Costs and trade data

will be released.

     The Bank of Canada will announce their latest policy decision at 1000ET,

with expectations policy will be left unchanged.

     The DOE weekly crude oil stocks will be released at 1030ET.

     At 1400ET, the Federal Reserve publishes the Beige Book for upcoming FOMC

meeting.

     Late US data will see Consumer Credit and Treasury Allotments released at

1500ET.

     Consumer credit is expected to rise by $17.8 billion in January after an

$18.4 billion increase in December. Retail sales fell by 0.3% and were flat

excluding motor vehicles, even weaker than the soft revised December figures.

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