Forex Today: US-Sino spat weighs on sentiment, Brexit talks are on life-support, FOMC minutes eyed

Here is what you need to know on Wednesday, October 9:

• Trade: The US slapped visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in human rights violations in Xinjiang. The news dampens the mood ahead of high-level trade talks on Thursday. A Chinese ban of American basketball and reports that the Chinese delegation will cut short its visit to Washington also weighs on sentiment. The administration is still considering limits on US investments in China. The world’s second-largest economy has vowed to retaliate, perhaps by curbing American companies’ activities in the country.
• Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, has acknowledged that the Fed’s balance sheet is growing due to intervention in the repo market. However, he stressed that the current growth of the bank’s balance sheet should not be confused with a new QE program. Powell reiterated that the US economy is doing well but left the door open to additional rate cuts. He will speak again today.
• The FOMC Meeting Minutes are due out late in the day and are set to shed more light on the splits within the world’s most powerful central bank. See  FOMC Minutes September 17-18 Meeting Preview: Balancing the odds
• UK: Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a cabinet rebellion and many retirements from his Conservative Party as he nears a no-deal Brexit. The news follows an unpleasant call between Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Accounts of the conversation are disputed, but the conclusion on both sides is that reaching a deal in next week’s EU Summit has lower chances.  
• Extending Article 50 remains the most probable outcome, with June 2020 being circled as a potential new deadline. Johnson is set to meet his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar later this week  GBP/USD remains on the back foot.  
• Cryptocurrencies are stable with Bitcoin trading above $8,000.
• Gold is holding onto $1,500 amid the risk-off sentiment.