Todays Markets

Bloomberg: Stocks Decline; Yuan Weakens as PBOC Eases Policy: Markets Wrap
China paced declines in Asian stocks and the yuan fell as investors assessed the latest move by the People’s Bank of China to loosen monetary policy. Chinese shares bore the brunt of selling as traders returned from a week-long holiday that encompassed the rout in Treasuries. [more...]

Bloomberg: China Faces a Bleaker End to 2018 as Central Bank Cuts Reserve Ratio Again
China’s central bank cut the amount of cash lenders must hold as reserves for the fourth time this year, as policy makers seek to shore up the faltering domestic economy amid a worsening trade war. [more...]

Bloomberg: Oil Drops on Saudi Assurance and Hopes for U.S. Waivers on Iran
Oil in London extended losses for a third day on signs that the potential impact of impending U.S. sanctions on Iranian supplies may be mitigated. Brent futures fell as much as 1.1 percent to below $84 a barrel, after retreating 2.5 percent over the past two sessions. Saudi Arabia can tap its spare production capacity immediately to offset any declines in Iranian crude exports.  [more...]

Bloomberg: Worst Week in Two Years Has India Stock Investors Taking Cover
The best-performing stock market in Asia for much of this year has lost that title in less than a month. As the S&P BSE Sensex Index sank into a correction Friday, posting its biggest weekly plunge in more than two years, investors began paying up to hedge against more declines. [more...]

Bloomberg: BOE's Haldane Will Be Tasked to Fix U.K.’s Poor Productivity
Andy Haldane, the Bank of England’s chief economist, will get the tricky job of working out how to address Britain’s productivity puzzle. Business secretary Greg Clark will name Haldane on Monday as chair of the new industrial strategy council, a body charged with overseeing delivery of the U.K.’s flagship economic policy, the Financial Times reported. [more...]

Bloomberg: From Blenheim to BlackRock, Here’s Why Everyone’s Bullish About Copper
As the metals world descends on London this week, it seems everybody has something in common: they’re all copper bulls. Speaking ahead of the annual LME Week gathering that starts Monday, more than a dozen commodity-focused hedge funds, trading houses, producers, banks and brokers were almost unanimously positive on the near-term outlook for the metal used in pipes and wires. [more...]

Bloomberg: U.S. Dollar Dependence Sets Markets for `Liquidity Crunch'
The current run-up in U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar poses a major stress test for a global financial system that has become even more dependent on the American currency since the last credit conflagration. [more...]

Bloomberg: Pound, Gilt Traders Face Ticking Clock to October EU Summit
The pound benefited in recent days from optimism that Britain and the European Union are getting closer to a Brexit deal, but this week could test that view. [more...]

Reuters: China shares weigh on regional markets despite central bank support
Shares in Asia slumped Monday as China’s markets stumbled in their first trading day after a one-week holiday even though Beijing’s central bank increased liquidity to offset the impact of an escalating trade dispute with the United States. [more...]

Reuters: Oil drops as U.S. considers granting some waivers on Iran crude sanctions
Brent crude oil prices fell more than 1 percent on Monday after Washington said it may grant waivers to sanctions against Iran’s oil exports next month, and as Saudi Arabia was said to be replacing any potential shortfall from Iran. [more...]

CNBC: China says it's not afraid of trade war with the US — its actions show Beijing is nervous
The decision by China's central bank to cut the amount of reserves held by banks is an indication that authorities in the world's second-largest economy are getting nervous about a long-drawn trade war with the U.S., experts said. [more...]

CNBC: Global dealmaking appetite falls to a four-year low amid Brexit, US-China trade fears, study says
Companies' appetite for mergers and acquisitions has fallen to a four-year low, with investment pressured by worries over Brexit and the U.S.-China trade battle, according to a study released on Monday. [more...]