Business

In some good news for the distressed US retail sector, on Monday morning handbag retailer Coach confirmed long-running speculation, when it announced that it would acquire peer Kate Spade in a $2.4 billion deal. Coach will pay Kate Spade shareholders $18.50 a share in cash, a 28% premium to Kate’s closing price as of Dec. 27, the last trading day before the Wall Street Journal first reported that Kate was exploring a sale of the company after coming under pressure from an activist shareholder. In February, Kate Spade confirmed it was reviewing such options in February.

Gold Coins and Bars Demand Rises 9% In Q1, 2017

Submitted by Nicholas Colas of Convergex

April Was Cruel… To the US Tre

In all the drama surrounding the French elections, few noticed the PBOC's announcement that China’s FX reserves rose for the third straight month in April, increasing by $20.45 billion to $3.03 trillion, more than the $11 billion expected and the single biggest monthly increase in three years going back to April 2014, on the back of a weaker dollar and increasingly more draconian capital controls on outflows.

Submitted by Shant Movsesian (RANSquawk) and Rajan Dhall MSTA

All eyes on Sunday’s French election result, but little evidence of defensive positioning in the EUR. GBP continues to fly the flag, batting off the negative mood over the latest Brexit exchanges. Commodities in focus, but tentative signs of some near term relief. CAD overstretched. US jobs report mixed at best.