US equities start the session in positive........>

US: US equities start the session in positive territory, with constructive

reports about China's offer to up agricultural goods purchases from the US in

return for a partial trade deal seen helping sentiment somewhat. This has also

resulted in a higher, steeper, US yield curve, helping spare the greenback from

the morning's modest weakness.

-In commodities space, WTI and Brent crude futures sit higher, with Turkey's

incursion across the border into northern Syria propping up energy prices.

-US wholesale inventories and trade sales data are the data highlights

Wednesday, but more focus will likely be paid to the FOMC minutes and another

speech from Fed's Powell, who appears at a 'Fed Listens' event in Kansas City at

1600BST/1100ET. Text of the speech will be released, but there is no Q&A.