SQUAWK BOX, FRIDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2019

It’s all about the Fed. Investors around the world are on tenterhooks as they await a speech from Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium, which could send strong signals on the outlook for U.S. monetary policy. Two Fed presidents tell CNBC that they don’t see a case for further interest rate cuts in 2019. This side of the Atlantic, sterling enjoys its best day in almost 3 months following German chancellor Angela Merkel’s positive comments on finding an Irish backstop Brexit solution. However, French president Emmanuel Macron stands firm saying that the mechanism is indispensable to the withdrawal agreement. Italian President Sergio Mattarella gives political parties five days to ink a coalition deal, as the PD sets red lines for a partnership with Five-Star, raising the prospect of snap elections.