MNI US Open: Deals Down To A Matter Of "Hours"

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

• E.U. BARNIER'S NEGATIVE TONE MIRRORS U.K. JOHNSON'S AS DEAL HOPES WANE
• WORK CONTINUES OVERNIGHT ON U.S. COVID RELIEF BILL, STILL NO TEXT
• U.K. RETAIL SALES DATA AND GERMAN IFO BEAT EXPECTATIONS
• B.O.J. WON'T ALTER FRAMEWORK; NEGATIVE RATE POLICY: GOV KURODA

Fig.1: German IFO Beats Expectations

IFO, MNI

NEWS:

UK-EU: Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier addressing the European Parliament sounds fairly downbeat on the prospect of an FTA deal being reached with the UK.

• Says there are "a few hours left" in talks and that it was the "moment of truth" as both sides tackled the "hard nuts to crack".
• Says that the EU "respects UK sovereignty" on fisheries, but that it wouldnt be fair for EU fishermen to have no transitory rights in UK waters.
• Comes after a phone call last night between UK PM Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in which Johnson expressed how the EU would need to bend on fisheries for a deal to be possible.

UK DATA: UK retail sales declined by 3.8% in Nov as the second lockdown kicked in, slightly better than markets expected and in line with MNI's latest Reality Check. Nevertheless, sales remain above their pre-pandemic levels with monthly sales 2.6% higher than in Feb. Annual sales grew by 2.4% in Nov after increasing by 5.8% in the previous month. Clothing and fuel sales took the largest hit during the winter lockdown with clothing and footwear sales plunging by 19.0% m/m, while fuel sales were down 16.6% m/m. Household goods and food stores were the only categories to see a monthly increase as firms noted that consumers brought forward their Christmas shopping, particularly on festive home products and DIY. Household good stores saw sales rise by 1.6% and food sales ticked up 3.1% in Nov. Internet sales accelerated to 6.3% m/m, up from 4.8% seen in Oct, shifting the proportion of all retailing up to 31.4% in Nov, its highest since June. Compared to Nov 2019 online sales were 74.7% higher in value terms.

GERMANY DATA: The Ifo business climate indicator ticked up to 92.1 in Dec, in contrast to markets looking for a small downtick (BBG: 90.0). Current conditions improved as well to 91.3, above market projections (expected 89.0) Expectations ticked up to 92.8 in Dec, slightly outperforming forecasts looking for an increase to 92.5. Companies were less sceptical about the coming six months and they were generally more satisfied with the current situation.However, the lockdown is hitting certain sectors particularly hard, such as tour operators, accommodation services and creative artists.

BOJ: Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Friday the central bank has no plans to change its policy framework or its negative rate policy and will continue to seek a way to hit the elusive 2% price target. "Downward pressure stemming from coronavirus on economy and prices will be prolonged," making it difficult for the BOJ to achieve the 2% price target, Kuroda told reporters. Kuroda added that there were no plans to change either the framework or price target, but said the BOJ would assess its easy policy,

CHINA-AUSTRALIA (MNI EXCLUSIVE): China has no pressing need for Australian coal since it accounts for just a small part of total consumption and domestic capacity is more than sufficient to make up for any shortfall, policy advisors and industry experts said, adding that they expect domestic coal production to pick up with the release of fresh quotas for the new year. For full article contact sales@marketnews.com

CHINA (MNI INTERVIEW): China's GDP growth could exceed 8.5% next year if other major economies rebound in the second half on the back of Covid vaccination programmes, a senior advisor to the People's Bank of China told MNI in an interview, adding that there was no danger of deflation in the world's second-largest economy. For full interview contact sales@marketnews.com

CHINA-E.U.: Negotiations over the China-E.U. investment deal is now at the final stage and both parties still hope to achieve the goals set by leaders on both sides said Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Wang Wenbin, on Friday. The China-E.U. Bilateral Investment Deal, or Comprehensive Investment Deal, has been under negotiation for seven years and both parties have pledged to conclude the negotiation this year.

RBNZ: A former chairman of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand told MNI the central bank should withdraw from monetary stimulus policies fueling a dangerous asset price bubble. Arthur Grimes, RBNZ chairman from 2003 to 2013 after previously serving as chief economist, said in an interview that the RBNZ had "gone overboard with schemes which are not necessary."

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