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"Apprehension" - that's how Citi describes trader sentiment as a new week begins, in which the bank points to various event risks over the coming five days. The one markets are focusing on over say, the FOMC on Wednesday, is the political noise coming from Washington. The investigation into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election is back in focus as President Trumps’ son-in-law testifies, along with Trump Jr and Paul Manafort later in the week. As such, risk sentiment seems apprehensive ahead of the inevitable headlines

• Kushner, Russian Ambassador Had Undisclosed Contact (WSJ)
• Democrats take aim at big companies in economic blueprint (Reuters)
• Trump open to signing Russia sanctions legislation (Reuters)
• Schumer Predicts Trump Firing Mueller Would Be GOP Tipping Point (BBG)
• Senate GOP Unsure of What Health-Care Measure They Will Vote On (WSJ)
• Japan PM Abe denies favors for friend amid falling support (Reuters)
• Britain’s Economy Is Almost Flatlining (BBG)
• Wall Street Outlasts Congress on Banker Pay, But Still Loses (WSJ)

The knives are out early this morning among the brokers, where UBS - hardly the embodiment of ibanking and sales and trading health these days - just downgraded Goldman Sachs to Neutral, cutting its price target from $250 to $235, on the recent disappointing results from the company's FICC group. UBS said it believes the market is pricing in an "inflection" in Goldman's trading revenue despite the recent weakness suggesting a recovery is needed to justify 2018 consensus estimates.

Submitted by Rajan Dhall from fxdaily.co.uk

FX Week Ahead - The greenback crashes again! Could Fed chair revive the USD at Wednesday's FOMC.

In a mixed session, which has seen Asian stocks ex-Japan broadly higher, the European Stoxx 600 index dropped as much as 0.6% after data Markit PMI data signalled euro-area economy grew in July at its slowest pace in six months while carmakers extended declines on continued concern about antitrust collusion in the industry.  Germany’s DAX Index was hardest-hit euro-area benchmark, down as much as 0.8%. Autos continued to be the worst-performing sector on the Stoxx Europe 600 after EU and German regulators said they are studying possible collusion among German automakers.