Viral concerns still an anchor for............>

FOREX: Viral concerns still an anchor for sentiment, but ranges respected

- Core equity markets sit slightly lower early Monday, with US futures

indicating a slightly lower open later today. Nonetheless, currency markets are

a little more sanguine, with minimal movement in most major pairs. USD/JPY's

somewhat bucked the pressure from stocks by finding support well ahead of the

Friday low, but Y110 still seems a step too far for now. AUD/USD has improved

slightly after hitting multi-decade lows last week. The Coronavirus backdrop

continues to trouble markets, with the fatality count now above 900 and more

cases confirmed in Western Europe.

- NOK is the outperformer thanks to much higher-than-expected inflation data,

with Y/Y CPI lurching up to 1.8% vs. Exp. 1.2%. Food prices were largely

responsible, but upward pressure from furniture, clothing and transportation

meant the price rises were quite broad-based. EUR/NOK targets 10.0974 initially

ahead of the 100-dma at 10.0472.

- The data calendar is quiet Monday, with just Canadian housing starts/building

permits data on the docket. Fed's Bowman, Daly and Harker are all due to speak.