Europe

World stocks eased back from record highs and fell for the first time in eight days, as jitters about Catalonia’s independence push returned while bets on higher U.S. interest rates sent the dollar to its highest since mid August; S&P 500 futures were modestly in the red - as they have been every day this week before levitating to record highs - ahead of hurricane-distorted nonfarm payrolls data (full preview here). U.S. jobs report will also be released Friday with a speech on monetary policy by the New York Fed chief.

Gold Investment In Germany Surges – Now World’s Largest Gold Buyers

In his latest Macro View, Bloomberg reporter and macro commentator, David Finnerty, explains why investors are better off ignoring today's payrolls report - where "any weakness will be attributed to hurricanes, while a beat on payrolls or wages would be seen as supporting a Federal Reserve interest rate increase in December" - and instead focus on Europe, and specifically the next ECB meeting which will set the stage for the next big move in global risk.

His full note below.

Looking for the Next Treasury Driver After Payrolls

Authored by Andrew Korybko via Oriental Review,

Catalonia’s drive for “independence” has unleashed a chain reaction of viral social media support that’s frighteningly resurrected civil war-era rhetoric, but the most dangerous consequences of this domino effect are yet to come if the separatists are ultimately successful in their quest.

The Nostalgia Narrative

Authored by Alberto Gallo via Bloomberg.com,

A number of markets show not only elevated valuations, but also irrational investor behavior...

Investors face a conundrum: The world is experiencing a record synchronous growth phase, but an increasing number of assets are becoming overvalued just as fundamental risks lurk in the background. Should investors continue to dance to the tune of central bank stimulus and low volatility, or prepare to exit?