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Here is what you need to know on Wednesday,  August 21st:

– Markets remained relatively calm ahead of FOMC Minutes and the Jackson Hole Symposium, as several central banks’ heads are scheduled to speak.

 – Italian political chaos steepened: PM Conte resigned,  former counterpart Salvini said he won’t resign and may become the interior Minister.  The League party later withdrew the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Conte. EUR/USD held around 1.1100 at the end of the day, after touching a daily low of 1.1065.

– The Pound was the best performer against the greenback, amid a light of hope coming from the Brexit front. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel who said that they must think about “practical solutions,” when referring to the Irish backstop, somehow hinting the EU is willing to discuss an alternative, although she quickly added that the withdrawal agreement wouldn’t be reopened. Hopes prevailed.

-Save-haven assets closed the day with gains, amid persistent turmoil, equities lost momentum and ended the day with losses in Europe and the US.

– Oil recovered modestly ahead of US stockpiles reports.

– Slow action also among the crypto sphere. Modest intraday gains for Bitcoin