Participants have shied away from riskier.....>

FOREX: Participants have shied away from riskier currencies, showing preference

for safe havens instead as uncertainty around the U.S.-China trade situation

remains. At the same time, the Hong Kong violence continues to worry investors.

The Antipodeans have landed at the bottom of the G10 basket after the RBA

released the minutes from its Nov monetary policy meeting, which revealed that

the Board "agreed that a case could be made to ease monetary policy," but this

time decided to the contrary. JPY sits atop the G10 pile thanks to the broader

risk-averse mood.

- Scepticism re: imminent progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations has filtered

through into the Asian FX space. A slightly stronger than expected fixing from

the PBoC has failed to drag USD/yuan into negative territory.

- Coming up today are U.S. housing starts & building permits and Canadian m'fing

sales. NY Fed Pres Williams, BoC Snr Dep Gov Wilkins and Norges Bank Dep Gov

Matsen will offer some central bank rhetoric. Elsewhere, UK PM Johnson will face

Opposition Leader Corbyn in a televised debate.