Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
The United Kingdom’s gilts remained mixed during European trading hours Wednesday ahead of the Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy meeting, scheduled to be held on August 1 by 11:00GMT and Governor Mark Carney’s speech, due by 11:30GMT for further direction in the debt market.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, traded tad higher 0.637 percent, the 30-year yield jumped 2 basis points to 1.375 percent and the yield on the short-term 2-year remained flat at 0.441 percent by 10:30GMT.
While the appointment of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister has prompted increased concerns, among businesses and financial markets alike, about the prospects of a no-deal Brexit, there was a somewhat surprising improvement in consumer confidence this month, Daiwa Capital Markets reported.
In particular, the headline sentiment index rose 2pts to -11, with households reportedly more optimistic about their personal finances and therefore a greater share assessing it to be an appropriate time to make major purchases – indeed, the survey’s purchase index rose 6pts to +4, a five-month high, the report added.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 slipped tad -0.62 percent to 7,599.05 by 10:40GMT.
