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China published fourth plenum communique: approved five-year plan, and aiming for a 'big increase' in the level of tech self-reliance. European equities are mostly higher, whilst US equity futures are mixed; TSLA -3%, IBM -7.2%, Quantum stocks +10%. DXY is flat, Antipodeans lead whilst havens lag in quiet trade. Bonds are pressured as the risk tone sees pockets of improvement; decent UK auction sparked little move in Gilts at the time. New Russian sanctions push crude benchmarks higher, XAU continues to consolidate. Looking ahead, Existing Home Sales (Sep), EZ Consumer Confidence Flash (Oct), Canadian Retail Sales (Aug), Australian Flash PMIs (Oct), (Suspended Releases: US Weekly Claims), CBRT Policy Announcement, CCP 4th Plenum (20th-23rd), European Council (23rd-24th). Speakers including ECB’s Lane, Fed's Bowman & Barr (Fed on Blackout). Earnings from Intel, American Airlines, Freeport McMoRan, Blackstone, T-Mobile US & Valero Energy. Newsquawk in 3 steps: 1. Subscribe to the free premarket movers reports 2. Listen to this report in the market open podcast (available on Apple and Spotify) 3. Trial Newsquawk’s premium real-time audio news squawk box for 7 days TARIFFS/TRADE US President Trump’s administration is considering a plan to restrict globally produced exports to China made with or containing US software, while the new export controls under consideration by the US could curb exports on a wide range of goods to China, and the plan would retaliate against China's rare earth export restrictions if adopted, according to Reuters sources. However, the sources said that the measure, details of which are being reported for the first time, may not move forward, and administration officials could announce the measure to put pressure on China but stop short of implementing it, while narrower policy proposals are also being discussed. US President Trump said a long meeting is scheduled with Chinese President Xi in South Korea, and he thinks something will work out, while he thinks he will make a deal with Chinese President Xi and could make a deal on soybeans. Trump added that they could even make a deal on nuclear and thinks he will talk to Xi about Russian oil, as well as ending the war in Ukraine. Trump also commented that tariffs are vital and that they might go to the Supreme Court for the tariffs case. US Treasury Secretary Bessent said he was leaving on Wednesday for Malaysia to meet with Chinese officials and is hoping they can iron things out, while he will have two days of fulsome talks with Chinese officials in Malaysia. Bessent said it would be a shame to waste the first meeting of Trump and China's Xi during Trump's second term, as well as noted that he is contemplating the US and allies' next move if China talks fail. US Treasury Secretary Bessent said any export controls regarding China will be in coordination with G7 allies. Taiwan US envoy said they are close to reaching a trade agreement with the US. China Commerce Ministry says Vice Premier Lifeng will hold talks with the USA regarding trade in Malaysia within 24-27 October. EUROPEAN TRADE EQUITIES European bourses (STOXX 600 +0.2%) are mostly firmer but with some slight underperformance in the DAX 40, which is being pressured by post-earning losses in SAP (-2.4%). European sectors are mixed. Energy takes the top spot, joined closely by Consumer Products; the latter boosted by upside in Kering (+9%) after the Co. reported strong Q3 metrics. To the downside, Evolution (7%) weighs on the Travel & Leisure sector. US equity futures are mixed; the RTY gains, whilst the ES & NQ hold around the unchanged mark. Key pre-market movers: Tesla (-3%, profits slip despite reporting record rev.), IBM (-7%, top- and bottom-line beats but cloud rev. growth slows), Quantum stocks (US President Trump's administration is in talks to take equity stakes in quantum computing firms). Anti-obesity drug prescribing shows signs of levelling off, via Axios. Click for the sessions European pre-market equity newsflow Click for the additional news Click for a detailed summary FX USD is slightly firmer/flat and trades within a very narrow 98.92-99.10 range; lack of data releases and Fed speak (due to blackout) has led to quiet trade for the Dollar. However, this should all pick-up on Friday, with the BLS set to release US CPI, despite the government shutdown. There have been some important trade-related newsflow recently; Reuters reported that the Trump administration is mulling a plan to restrict globally produced exports to China made with or containing US software. Though the piece suggested that the US may not go forward with the plan, and may only be used to apply pressure on China amid trade negotiations. On that, Treasury Secretary Bessent is set to meet with China’s VP in Malaysia over the weekend; Bessent said he hopes “to iron things out”. EUR is flat/incrementally lower vs USD. EUR/USD is currently trading in a 1.1591-1.1614 range, which is towards the mid-point of Wednesday’s bounds. Overnight, ECB’s Kazaks said “it may well be the case that the next rate move could as easily be a hike as a cut” – comments which are in contrast to Villeroy (cut more likely than hike) and Kocher (sees equal chance). JPY is right at the foot of the G10 pile, alongside haven peer CHF; nothing really driving the “risk-on” sentiment seen in the FX-space today, but perhaps some focus on US Treasury Secretary Bessent’s meeting with China VP this weekend – it is worth caveating that other trade-related reporting has been broadly negative (discussed above). Newsflow out of Japan has been very light, with USD/JPY largely moving at the whim of the Dollar; currently trades at the upper end of a 151.82-152.66 range, a peak which marks a WTD best. Further upside could see a breach back above 153.00 and then to the 10th October high at 152.27. GBP is flat, taking a breather following the prior day’s subdued trade in the aftermath of a softer-than-expected inflation report. Newsflow since has been incredibly light, and this has been reflected in Cable, which currently trades in a narrow 1.3329-1.3362 range; at the mid-point of Wednesday’s confines. Antipodeans are at the top of the G10 pile, but little fresh behind the strength; though upside which seemingly coincided with an early-morning uptick in copper prices. PBoC set USD/CNY mid-point at 7.0918 vs exp. 7.1205 (Prev. 7.0954) Click for a detailed summary FIXED INCOME USTs were softer by a tick or two in APAC trade and have continued to dip into and throughout the European morning. Pressure a function of the pockets of improvement in the risk tone as the US-China situation isn't perhaps as bad as first thought, a point added to by the fact the US’ Bessent and China’s He are still set to meet in Malaysia from tomorrow. Thus far, down to a 113-16+ trough with downside of nine ticks at most and approaching the 113-10 WTD base. Ahead, Fed's Barr and Bowman are scheduled, but the blackout means this will be a non-event. Data-wise, the shutdown continues to limit, but any comments from the KC survey on inflation are of note ahead of Friday's CPI. EGBs followed suit to the above. Bunds below the 130.00 mark, matching the 129.24 low from Tuesday, but yet to test 129.76 from Monday. EGBs hit by the better tone around trade as outlined above. Further pressure for fixed income also stemming from the continued advances in energy prices, biasing yields higher. Gilts, unsurprisingly, saw a softer start after closing with gains of nearly 60 ticks on Wednesday. Gilts opened lower by a handful of ticks and despite a brief move into the green have since conformed to the bearish bias and trade lower by 15 ticks, an amount comparable to Bunds. UK sells GBP 4.75bln 4.125% 2035 Gilt: b/c 2.83, average yield 4.00%, tail 0.7bps Click for a detailed summary COMMODITIES Crude benchmarks are strong today as the US placed new sanctions on Russian oil companies. After an initial c. USD 1.30/bbl move late on Wednesday, WTI and Brent trended higher during APAC trade from USD 59.72/bbl and USD 63.86/bbl respectively to peak at USD 60.90/bbl and USD 65.04/bbl. Currently, benchmarks are continuing to trade higher to new session highs at USD 61.79/bbl and USD 65.96/bbl respectively. To recap, late in Wednesday’s session, the US placed sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil because of “Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process”. Spot XAU is a little firmer and is currently oscillating in a tight USD 4066-4137/oz band as the metal consolidates following Tuesday’s selloff from record highs. Base metals traded rangebound during the APAC session but broke out of recent ranges following Antofagasta copper production and confirmation of a China-US meeting in Malaysia. 3M LME Copper oscillated in a tight c. USD 50/t range during APAC trade before trending higher and is currently making fresh session highs at USD 10.82k/t. Reliance, India will be halting Russian oil imports as part of the term-deal with Rosneft due to the latest US sanctions, via Reuters citing sources Russian oil supply to India is set to fall to near zero, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. Indian state refiners reviewing bills of lading for Russian oil cargoes arriving post-November 21st to ensure no supply comes directly from US-sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil, according to a source cited by Reuters Click for a detailed summary NOTABLE DATA RECAP French Business Climate Mfg (Oct) 101.0 vs. Exp. 96.0 (Prev. 96.0, Rev. 97) UK CBI Trends - Orders (Oct) -38.0 (Prev. -27.0) NOTABLE EUROPEAN HEADLINES SNB Minutes (Sep): discussed diverging interest rate developments in the US and EZ with experts. Board concluded that the current implementation of monetary policy was appropriate under various scenarios. German Council of Tax Experts expect EUR 33.6bln more in total tax revenue in 2025-2029 vs May; German Finance Minister says more positive economic outlook is reflected in rising tax rev.; Gov. is bearing most of growth booster expenses NOTABLE US HEADLINES US President Trump said interest rates are down, while he criticised the Fed chair, and noted that he will be doing something very quickly to get beef prices down. US Treasury Secretary Bessent said they might see CPI coming down next month and the month after, while he thinks housing prices are a lagging indicator, and they are going to see substantial tax refunds for Americans. US Republican Senators are said to consider a bill to keep SNAP program benefits flowing during the government shutdown, according to POLITICO. US President Trump's administration is in talks to take equity stakes in quantum computing firms, according to WSJ. GEOPOLITICS MIDDLE EAST US Secretary of State Rubio said the Israeli Knesset's moves on West Bank annexation threaten the Gaza peace deal. RUSSIA-UKRAINE US President Trump said it didn't feel right to have a meeting with Russian President Putin, so he cancelled it and felt it was time for Russian sanctions but hopes sanctions won't be on for long. Trump also stated that whenever he speaks with Russian President Putin, they are good conversations, but they don't go anywhere, while he added that sanctions will hopefully make Russian President Putin reasonable. US Secretary of State Rubio said they would still like to meet with the Russians and are always going to be interested in engaging with Russia if there's an opportunity to achieve peace. US Treasury Secretary Bessent said a substantial pick up in Russia sanctions was expected to be announced on Wednesday or Thursday. Bessent separately commented that Russian President Putin has not come to the table in an honest manner and President Trump is disappointed with where we are in talks to end the war, while he said the incoming Russia sanctions will be among the largest and the US is urging European and G7 allies, plus Canada and Australia, to join the sanctions push. US Treasury Department announced it is imposing sanctions on Russia related to oil and is targeting Russia's Rosneft and Lukoil in the latest batch of sanctions, while it added that OFAC is designating a number of Russia-based Rosneft and Lukoil subsidiaries. Furthermore, it stated that all entities owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly, by Rosneft and Lukoil are blocked, even if not designated by OFAC and it called on Russia to immediately agree to a ceasefire. Ukraine President Zelensky says a ceasefire is a possibility. More pressure on Russia is needed. Will not agree to territorial concessions. Russia's Deputy Security Council Chair Medvedev states that the US is a Russian opponent and that US President Trump is on a warpath, his actions are like an act of war. OTHER North Korea said its missile test on Wednesday was successful and was for self-defence, while it added that the missiles tested were hypersonic projectiles, according to KCNA. CRYPTO Bitcoin is a little firmer and trades around USD 109k with Ethereum also a touch firmer and just shy of USD 3.9k. APAC TRADE APAC stocks were mostly subdued following the negative handover from Wall St, where sentiment was weighed on by US-China frictions. ASX 200 traded rangebound as participants digested quarterly updates, and with gains in energy and utilities offsetting the weakness in tech and mining. Nikkei 225 underperformed after gapping lower at the open to beneath the 49,000 level despite a weaker currency. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp were negative with the mainland pressured amid US-China tensions after reports that the Trump admin considers restricting globally-produced exports to China made with or containing US software. NOTABLE ASIA-PAC HEADLINES BoK kept the base rate unchanged at 2.50%, as expected, with the decision not unanimous as board member Shin Sung-Hwan dissented and said a rate cut is needed to support growth. BoK said it will maintain the rate cut stance to mitigate downside risk to economic growth, and will adjust the timing and pace of any further base rate cuts, while it will closely monitor changes in domestic and external policy conditions, as well as examine the impact on inflation and financial stability. BoK Governor Rhee revealed that four board members said the door for rate cuts should be open for the near future, while two board members said current rates should be maintained. Rhee also said that a rate cut at the meeting could have accelerated the upswing in property prices and that it was too early to tell if the rate-cut stance could continue through next year. Furthermore, he said there is greater focus on financial stability among board members, and noted that the chip cycle and US-China trade talks should be watched as the board prepares for the November forecast revision. Japan's RENGO says it will be seeking wage hikes of 5% or more in 2026 shunto negotiations China publishes fourth plenum communique, via Xinhua; approves draft of next five-year plan as plenum ends, aims to boost trade innovation, further open markets and extend bilateral investment opportunities. Plans measures to stabilise the job market. Will strengthen public opinion guidance to effectively prevent ideological risks. To enhance social security controls to legally combat crime. Promotes long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macau. Will persevere in advancing comprehensive and strict governance over the Communist party. Aiming for a 'big increase' in the level of tech self-reliance. To comprehensively enhance independent innovation capabilities. Loading...
