| By Julia Horowitz • Thursday, August 29 | | | | Good Thursday morning. 📲 In today's newsletter: Brexit is coming to a head, a warning from the real estate market and Citi's minimum wage hike.
US stock futures point higher after notching gains on Wednesday. Markets in Europe opened in the green, while stocks in Asia broadly fell. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was the exception, rising 0.3%.
▸ Forwarded this newsletter? Want global markets news and analysis from CNN Business reporters every morning? You can sign up here. | | | What's happening now in markets: MARKET DATA AS OF 8/29/19 6:00 AM ET | | MARKET FLASH Buckle up, because Brexit is back
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's latest maneuver to push through Brexit has been described by opponents as a "coup" and a "constitutional outrage." For investors, it's a warning sign: Ignore Brexit at your risk.
Johnson shook Britain out of its summer lull on Wednesday when he asked the Queen to suspend Parliament just days after it returns from its summer recess next week, and only weeks before the Brexit deadline on October 31.
Why it's important: The move gives lawmakers less time to block a messy no-deal departure from the European Union. Johnson has said he will take the United Kingdom out of the bloc on October 31 with or without a deal to protect trade.
The pound fell as much as 1.1% against the dollar on the news. It's trading lower again on Thursday, and remains below the $1.22 mark. | |
Johnson's move sets the stage for a tumultuous fall that could mean more market volatility.
"It goes without saying ... that the next few weeks are heading into uncharted territory," said ING's James Smith and Petr Krpata. "For the pound, all of this means further weakness to come."
Remember: Analysts expect the pound to grind lower between now and October 31. Morgan Stanley has predicted that the currency could fall to between $1.00 and $1.10 if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal in place. Sterling was at nearly $1.50 before the 2016 Brexit vote.
The UK economy is also in a fragile state. In the second quarter, it shrunk for the first time in nearly seven years. Brexit has the potential to send the country into a recession.
See here: UK car production fell 10.6% in July, the 14th consecutive month of decline, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said Thursday.
Investor insight: A Brexit shock wouldn't just send Britain reeling. Germany, Europe's largest economy, is also on the brink of recession, and concerns about global economic growth are rising. The last thing investors need is a jolt from the UK. | | VOICES On US recession fears "Take a deep breath. There is not enough evidence to suggest we are on the immediate verge of recession."
STEVE CHIAVARONE, PORTFOLIO MANAGER AT FEDERATED INVESTORS
Read more from CNN Business on the debate. | | DATA POINT Real estate investment flashes 'yellow' | |
The US real estate market "flashed a warning sign" in the second quarter of the year, according to a new report from Real Capital Analytics, which tracks commercial property.
For the first time in seven years, overseas investors in US commercial real estate — a segment that includes office buildings and retail space — became net sellers of properties.
This follows a strong 2018, when cross-border acquisition of commercial real estate hit near-record levels.
"These investors still purchased assets," wrote Jim Costello, the report's lead author. "They simply sold more than they bought."
No single region was responsible for the pullback, though it's notable that China slid to No. 9 in the ranking of investors. The country, which has tightened rules on capital outflows, was fourth in 2018 and third in 2017.
What it tells us: "The decline is a yellow warning sign rather than a red one because it is not a whole class of investors writing off the US," the report said. "Rather, the high-ticket price deals that these investors pursue are becoming more challenging." | | UP NEXT
More earnings. Abercrombie & Fitch, Best Buy, Dollar General and Dollar Tree report before the US market open. American Outdoor Brands and Ulta follow after the close.
Also today →
▸ The second estimate of US second quarter GDP hits at 8:30 a.m. ET.
▸ Pending US home sales for July arrive at 10 a.m. ET.
Coming tomorrow: Watching US personal income and personal spending data.
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WHAT WE'RE READING AND WATCHING
▸ How Bayer-Monsanto became one of the worst corporate deals (WSJ)
▸ Apple apologizes for listening to Siri recordings (CNN Business)
▸ South Korea and Japan's old grudge is getting out of hand (Economist)
▸ Lord & Taylor sold to clothing rental company Le Tote (CNN Business)
▸ Italian parties strike deal for new government in blow to Salvini (CNN)
▸ Mnuchin says ultra-long bonds under 'very serious consideration' (Bloomberg)
▸ The Catch-22 for labor unions enjoying newfound public support (Vox)
▸ Peloton is a phenomenon. Can it last? (New York Times) | | | OKAY, SO... Big banks get on board with $15 an hour
Following pressure from House Democrats, Citi has raised its minimum wage in the United States to $15 an hour. It's the last of the big American banks to boost pay for frontline workers, my CNN Business colleague Matt Egan reports from New York.
The change, which went into effect on June 1, was made with little fanfare, and was revealed in a statement this week to the House Financial Services Committee.
My surprise here is that Citi was last. The bank was out front earlier this year when it said that women at Citigroup made nearly 30% less than men worldwide. It was the first major US bank to make public global pay data that hadn't been adjusted for education, experience and location, putting pressure on its peers to follow suit.
This time, though, Citi is a laggard. In April, Bank of America committed to raising its minimum wage to $20 an hour over the next two years.
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