Sales were down in four of seven subsectors, representing 65% of total wholesale sales. The building material and supplies and the motor vehicle and parts subsectors led the declines in August, while the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector posted the largest gain.

In volume terms, wholesale sales edged down 0.1%.

The building material and supplies subsector declined for the second time in three months, down 2.3% to $9.5 billion in August. Sales were down in two of three industries, with the lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies industry (-3.5%) contributing the most to the decline. The decrease in August offset the gain in July for both the subsector (+1.2%) and the industry (+0.3%). Related indicators including housing starts (-6.4%), and exports of forestry products and building and packaging materials (-2.8%) also declined in August.

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That could help the loonie outperform near-term if that phrase is dropped. Canada's economy is operating close to capacity, and downside risk has been reduced following the new North America trade pact.

Japan's all industry activity rebounded in August, according to rttnews.

The all industry activity index climbed 0.5 percent month-on-month in August, reversing a 0.2 percent drop in July and a 0.9 percent decrease in June. Economists had forecast a monthly growth of 0.4 percent.

Among components, construction industry activity gained 0.8 percent, in contrast to a 1 percent fall in July. At the same time, industrial production grew 0.2 percent, offsetting July's 0.2 percent decrease.

Tertiary industry activity climbed 0.5 percent, following a 0.1 percent fall in July.

On a yearly basis, all industry activity advanced 0.9 percent, the same rate of expansion as logged in July.

Unclaimed funeral urns, accumulated by thousands throughout Japan, reflecting the weakening of family ties and economic pressure in a rapidly aging country, says a Reuters editorial.

The personalities of the dead, cremated at public expense, are usually known. But in most cases, relatives either refuse or do not respond to requests to collect their remains. Burials can be expensive and time consuming, which is a burden for family members who hardly know the deceased relative.

Abandoned remains indicate social, economic and demographic changes in Japan, where more and more older people live on welfare, and families are more fragmented, indicating a weakening of traditional family ties and obligations.

Experts say this is a problem that is likely to grow. Mortality in Japan is projected to increase from 1.33 million per year to 1.67 million by 2040, even when the total population decreases.

Traditional funerals, including food, drinks and gifts for guests, as well as hiring a Buddhist monk, can cost 2 million yen ($ 17,800) or more, industry sources say.

New businesses have appeared, offering a no-nonsense funeral for between $ 2,000 and $ 4,000, but other expenses may arise, including hundreds of dollars and burial of an urn in a temple or cemetery.

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EUR/USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.1689 (2534)

$1.1634 (1037)

$1.1599 (119)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.1511

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.1447 (3057)

$1.1412 (6119)

$1.1373 (3405)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options and PUT options with the expiration date November, 19 is 83948 contracts (according to data from October, 19) with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,1450 (6119);

GBP/USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.3157 (802)

$1.3126 (388)

$1.3097 (621)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.3066

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.2966 (2183)

$1.2939 (1989)

$1.2909 (3155)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options with the expiration date November, 19 is 23416 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,3500 (3291);

- Overall open interest on the PUT options with the expiration date November, 19 is 28759 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,3000 (3155);

- The ratio of PUT/CALL was 1.23 versus 1.19 from the previous trading day according to data from October, 19

* - The Chicago Mercantile Exchange bulletin (CME) is used for the calculation.

** - Open interest takes into account the total number of option contracts that are open at the moment.