Europe

Authored by Gail Tverberg via Our Finite World blog,

The Trump administration has asked Beijing to impose what would be the first round of sanctions against nearly 10 Chinese companies and individuals that trade with North Korea, part of a strategy to starve, and ultimately shut down, Kim's nuclear program, the WSJ reports. 

After a tumultous week in the world of politics, with non-stop Trump drama in the US, a disastrous for Theresa May general election in the UK, and pro-establishment results in France and Italy, this is shaping up as another busy week ahead with multiple CB meetings, a full data calendar and even another important Eurogroup meeting for Greece. Wednesday's FOMC will be the main event, with the Fed expected to hike 25bp (see full Goldman preview here), while the BOJ, BOE and SNB all remain on hold.

Courtesy of BofA, here is the breakdown of key events:

First the bad news: following Friday's "tech wreck" European equity markets have opened lower, with the Stoxx 600 sliding 0.9% and back under the 50DMA for the first time since December, dragged by selloff in tech shares, mirroring Asian markets as Friday’s "FAAMG" volatility in U.S. markets spreads globally, battering shares from South Korea to the Netherlands.

In his characteristically unique style, this morning Mint's Bill Blain has set his sights, and commentary, on the recent elections in the UK and France, the former of which he summarizes as a "FUBAR moment of monumental proportions" while the latter is - well, who knows, but "at least Macron has a plan."

His latest "Blain's Morning Porridge" note below:

France or the UK - A Tale of Two Cities... but mainly who is going to clear up?