Switzerland seasonally adjusted real exports rose 10.7% MoM in July, prior -6.0%.

According to Semafor, a US official and a White House official say the US government believes Iran-Oman talks collapsed several weeks ago; those talks had at one point explored a possible fee/tolling arrangement for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The Oman embassy did not respond. Trump has described the situation as "very good" and said he expects economic pressure to bring Tehran back to the table, though he has called off further talks for the foreseeable future. Last night he posted he would wage an "economic war" and threatened sanctions on any country that does business with Tehran.

U.S. President Trump said on Aug. 19 he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year; the Wall Street Journal reported he is considering holding the meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November. At a regular press briefing on Aug. 20, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said he had no specific information on U.S.-North Korea contacts and would not comment.