Forex news for North American trading on December 18, 2020
The day (and week for that matter) started with hopes for deals.  One was for a Brexit deal out of the EU/UK. The second was a deal out of US lawmakers for a Covid stimulus deal.   Both did not happen with negotiations continuing into the weekend. 

Stress test results announced by the Fed
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Stress test from the Federal Reserve

Major indices rebounded into the close but and lower
– NASDAQ snaps a 4 day winning streak
– Each of the major indices set intraday all-time highs
– S&P 500 snaps a 3 day win streak

US commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, confirms the earlier report
This relates to the earlier report at the start of the session (⬆). Ross adds that there is a total of 77 companies that is being added to the so-called entity list.

Says that many issues still remain on fisheries
That is largely to do with ratification before the year-end i.e. possible brief period of no-deal after 31 December if both sides can eventually reach a compromise.

Latest data released by UK CBI – 18 December 2020
The CBI readings are a survey on manufacturers to rate the level of volume for orders expected during the next 3 months.

Comments via Chinese state media, Xinhua
Essentially, China is keeping the status quo as we look towards the new year. It was earlier this month that policymakers were comfortable with letting the yuan run further to the upside, and that remains the case as we look to round off the year.

GBP/USD closes in on 1.3500 in European morning trade
The quid is hitting fresh lows on the day now with cable easing back towards 1.3500 and testing the 23.6 retracement level of the recent swing higher @ 1.3509.

BOE announces its latest monetary policy decision – 17 December 2020

The pound is one of the top performers today, alongside the aussie and kiwi
Cable is trading to fresh highs since April 2018 above 1.3600 but that also owes partly to the weaker dollar story. The pound on its own is trading higher on the day and that is more clearly reflected in EUR/GBP and GBP/JPY.