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.

The usual stuff that we’ve been hearing for months on end
In this final stretch of talks, transparency & unity are important as ever: Debriefed @Europarl_EN Conference of Presidents this morning on EU-UK negotiations.
For those who missed out, talks are likely to stretch on until the weekend again in hopes of a breakthrough or compromise.

SNB chief, Thomas Jordan, remarks
This refers to the decision yesterday . The SNB has been given a free pass on this for many years now but the US finally decided to put it on the list this time around.