The British pound was the strongest of the major currencies against the US dollar, up about 0.4%, after the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged in a narrow 5-4 vote, with Governor Andrew Bailey casting the deciding vote. The strength may be more attributable to the performance of the dollar today. Job cut data released by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed October cuts totaled 153,074, a 183% surge from September and the highest level for any October since 2003, making this the worst year for layoffs since 2009. This secondary data point is gaining increased attention as the U.S. government shutdown enters its 37th day, limiting the release of official economic reports. The focus now shifts to an afternoon of Fed speeches and upcoming data, including China's trade balance and the University of Michigan consumer sentiment and inflation expectations.