GBP/USD is down 0.5% at 1.3513.

GBP/USD is down 0.5% at 1.3513. Sterling is falling versus the U.S. below 1.35 to as low as 1.3489 because British Prime Minister Theresa May isn't giving much detail on how she sees the relationship between the U.K. and the EU after Brexit. Speaking in Florence, she did say that she doesn't see a deal similar to the one Canada has with the EU, or one similar to an European Economic Area membership. Mrs. May says she would want the U.K. to form its own type of deal with the EU. "Let us be creative," she says. This level of unpredictability is negative for the pound. However, sterling rebounded slightly once Mrs. May said there will be an implementation period of about two years, which gives more time for the U.K. and its currency to adjust to the new landscape.

Why Sterling's Fall Will Hurt

Why Sterling's Fall Will Hurt: The U.K. economy will perform better this year than expected. After that, the future's not so bright.
ECB Weighs Ending Stimulus as Fed Calibrates Its Easy Money Stance: The European Central Bank is likely to announce plans next month for phasing out the bond-buying program that has helped reinvigorate the eurozone economy, while the U.S. Federal Reserve is weighing how aggressively to retreat from its own easy money policies.
ECB Will Have Trouble Getting Out of Strong Euro Bind: The European Central Bank looks set to decide in October on how its bond-buying program will change in 2018. Looming over the proceedings is the surging euro.
France's Emmanuel Macron Takes EU Renewal Push to Greece: The European Union will crumble if it isn't overhauled, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday in Athens, attempting to reinvigorate his call for greater sharing of financial burdens in the eurozone.

A reading for business activity

A reading for business activity across the Midwest was unchanged in August from the prior month, remaining at its lowest level since April, according to a report Thursday.
The Chicago Business Barometer, also known as the Chicago PMI, or purchasing managers index, stayed at 58.9 in August. Indexes above 50 indicate expansion while anything lower indicates contraction.
Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expected the gauge to come in at 58.
"Following a sharp rise in the barometer to a more-than-three-year high in June, it isn't too surprising to see activity subsequently ease somewhat," said Shaily Mittal, an economist at MNI Indicators. "The disappointment comes from the employment indicator which once again contracted, the sixth time in the last 12 months, with fewer firms expecting an increase in hiring."
The inventories indicator fell below 50 during the month, hitting the lowest level since the start of the year, as some companies struggled to keep up with demand.
While the majority of respondents said their inventory levels were just right and around a quarter said they had too much, 16% said they had too little. This is a significant increase from the 2% who reported limited inventory when the same question was posed in November 2015.

Japanese yen is considered a safe-haven

The Japanese yen is considered a safe-haven asset, with the currency often showing volatility following geopolitical tensions. This has been the case this week, as the yen initially posted gains after North Korea fired a missile over Japanese territory on Tuesday, drawing sharp condemnations from Japan and the US. The easing of tensions since the missile launch has enabled the US dollar to recover and push above the symbolic 110 level. Still, if North Korea decides to fire another missile towards Japan, it’s a safe bet that the yen will gain ground.
Like other Western economies, Japan remains gripped with low inflation. This has resulted in the Bank of Japan keeping in place its ultra-accommodative monetary policy. Unlike the US and Europe, however, the BoJ has given no indications of tightening policy anytime soon, insisting that that inflation must first rise closer to its target of 2%. The economy is headed in right direction, as GDP has expanded for six consecutive quarters. In the second quarter, GDP impressed with a gain of 1.0%, well above the forecast of 0.6%. Still, with inflation nowhere near the BoJ’s target, the bank’s radical stimulus program is likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Gold for December delivery hit a new intraday high

Gold for December delivery hit a new intraday high of $1,313.30 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange today--its highest level since the US presidential election. "You caught a group of buys there," says Ira Epstein, a strategist at the Linn Group. "Gold is spiking because the central bankers really didn't do anything," he says. Many investors and analysts had been looking for clues about future interest rate increases from last week's Fed meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Some attribute recent dollar weakness to the lack of specifics from Yellen and ECB President Mario Draghi. A weaker dollar makes gold more affordable to foreign buyers.

USD/JPY has posted slight losses in the Friday session

USD/JPY has posted slight losses in the Friday session. In North American trade, the pair is trading at 109.26, down 0.26% on the day. On the release front, Tokyo Core CPI improved to 04%, edging above the estimate of 0.3%. In the US, durable goods reports were mixed. Core Durable Goods Orders improved to 0.5%, edging above the estimate of 0.4%. However, Durable Goods Orders declined 6.8%, weaker than the estimate of -6.0%. At the Jackson Hole meeting of central bankers, Janet Yellen has concluded her speech and the yen has responded with slight gains.
Federal Reserve Chair Yellen spoke at the Jackson Hole Symposium earlier in the day. Yellen did not take advantage of an ideal opportunity to address US monetary policy, choosing instead to discuss financial reforms, saying that measures put in place in 2007 and 2009 had been effective, adding that future reforms should remain modest. Her comments seemed aimed at a domestic audience, as her message to exercise caution comes at a time when President Trump is looking into wide-ranging reforms in the  industry. The pro-business Trump has complained that the financial sector is over-regulated and has said that he wants to ease current regulations.

Gold is on track to outperform stocks

Gold is on track to outperform stocks for the first time since 2011, highlighting the uncertainty that has accompanied this year’s stock market gains.
While a season of strong corporate earnings has powered stocks to record highs, investors are increasingly focusing on a cluster of issues that threaten to derail those rallies.
Many are worried about coming negotiations to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, an event that has roiled markets in previous years. A failure to raise the U.S. debt limit in a “timely manner” would prompt areview of the country’s credit rating, which now stands at the highest possible level, Fitch Ratings said Wednesday.
Others are nervous over a monthslong run of uneven U.S. economic data, which some are concerned could eventually drag down corporate earnings. Recent reports have shown some metrics, such as employment, holding strong while manufacturing falters and auto demand posts steep declines.
A stock market rally that hasn’t had a significant pullback in 19 months has amplified concerns that any correction could be swift and sharp, especially with valuations for many sectors near historic highs.
The worries have boosted prices for gold, a favorite destination for nervous investors who believe the metal will hold its value better than other assets when markets turn rocky.
Gold for August delivery is up 12.1% this year to $1,288.90 a troy ounce, while the S&P has risen 9.2%. Other indicators of investor anxiety, such as the Japanese yen, Swiss franc and CBOE Volatility Index have also risen in recent weeks.