World stock markets were mixed overnight but are holding steady this morning between Brexit developments. The resource weighted Australian market was the top performed gaining 0.4% while the Nikkei fell 0.4%. European indices and US index futures are pretty much flat this morning.
In currency markets GBP and EUR remain in the spotlight between yesterday's official triggering of Article 50 to start the Brexit process and the first official response from the EU expected tomorrow. Germany put out a report suggesting the the UK would be worse off than the EU after Brexit, but seriously what else are they going to say? That is the kind of report where people write the conclusion first and then work backwards.
Sterling is outperforming the euro for a second straight day, indicating that traders think Brexit will be better for the UK. PM May including security issues in her plans reminds traders that the UK has its own areas of leverage in negotiations. Meanwhile, a poll showing 62% of Scots support the UK government's positions on trade and immigration weakens the case for another independence vote.
Resources have dropped back a bit overnight in what looks like a normal trading correction with copper down 0.5% and crude oil down 0.4%. Gold is also down slightly. Based on this, we could see some softness in mining and energy stocks today. Natural gas could be active around the mid-morning weekly storage report.
Today brings US GDP, which probably won't have an impact unless there is a big surprise. Similarly, with so many Fed speakers this week, today's group may not spark a significant reaction unless someone seriously deviates from the party line. German consumer prices and Canada producer prices may attract some attention as they could show whether inflation pressures on central banks are growing or shrinking.
In Canada, Dollarama (TO:DOL) could be active after the retailer handily beat the street on both sales ($854M vs street $842M) and earnings ($1.24 vs street $1.12), raised its dividend by 10%, raised its long-term store growth target to 1,700 from 1,400 and indicated plans to start accepting credit cards.