Reuters

The dollar edged higher on Wednesday, as markets awaited further news on the possible appointment of a hawk as Fed chair and progress on U.S. tax reforms.

Sterling edged lower ahead of British employment data due on Wednesday that will help determine whether the Bank the England will raise interest rates.

Asian shares consolidated recent gains and currencies kept to tight ranges on Wednesday as the opening of China’s Communist Party conference produced more in the way of aspirational politics than concrete policies.

The dollar rose to a one-week high against a basket of currencies on Tuesday on speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump was leaning towards nominating a Federal Reserve head who would be more inclined to raise interest rates at a faster pace.

Theresa May will make a pitch to fellow EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday as she tries to break a deadlock in Brexit talks that has left Britain’s future trading position up in the air.

U.S. President Donald Trump has a pool of five candidates to choose from for the next chair of the Federal Reserve and is likely to announce his choice before going to Asia in early November, a source familiar with the situation said on Tuesday.

Catalonia refused on Tuesday to bow to the Spanish government’s demand that it renounce a symbolic declaration of independence, setting it on a political collision course with Madrid later this week.

European shares steadied on Tuesday, helped by some well-received earning updates from companies including food group Danone and education firm Pearson.

Japan’s Nikkei share average rose for an 11th straight day in choppy trade on Tuesday as a stable yen supported exporting automakers, while expectations that the ruling bloc will win the election later this month continued to underpin sentiment.

Oil prices clung to this month’s high on Tuesday after Iraqi forces seized the oil-rich city of Kirkuk from largely autonomous Kurdish fighters while Asian shares held firm on optimism about upcoming earnings.