T-Notes tick lower, -0-00+ at 129-14,.......>

US TSYS: T-Notes tick lower, -0-00+ at 129-14, with a likely focus on a weekend

BBG story which noted that "China said it will raise penalties on violations of

IP rights as it attempts to address one of the sticking points in trade talks

with the U.S. The Communist Party & State Council issued guidelines to

strengthen the protection of IP rights that local gov'ts will be required to

implement. The country will also study a lowering of thresholds for criminal

punishments for those who violate the IP rights." Elsewhere, Saturday saw U.S.

national security adviser O'Brien note that a phase 1 trade agreement with China

is still possible by the end of '19. Worth remembering that comments made by

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Friday pointed towards a continued focus on the

state led economic model, incl. SoEs, which isn't positive for the trade talks.

Also on Friday, Huawei stated that the U.S. gov'ts order to bar U.S. telecom

firms from using federal funds to buy products from the company is "unlawful".

- Eurodollar futures -0.5 tick to +0.5 tick through the reds.

- U.S. political matters remain key, with Michael Bloomberg officially entering

the race to become the Democratic presidential candidate over the weekend.