Barclays economists said uncertainty over the Fed’s rate decision and broader US policy goals makes this week’s FOMC the market focus. Last week’s US CPI was interpreted as effectively locking in a 25bp hike. Barclays warned an unexpected decision to hold rates, or guidance implying materially fewer/lower hikes than the market’s roughly three expected, could further weaken the dollar in the near term.

On a visit to Ireland on the 12th, US President Trump said he would like to see Ireland and Northern Ireland "united." The remark drew swift rebuttals from UK politicians: Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said on social media that "Trump is, as always, talking recklessly, just like when he talked about Greenland and wanted Canada to become the 51st US state," and insisted Northern Ireland is part of the UK. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Northern Ireland is a proud, indivisible part of the United Kingdom.

法新社援引在阿聯酋工作的專家和商界人士報道稱，阿布扎比決定暫停與德黑蘭的貿易關係，但如果雙方關係長期持續斷裂，可能會對迪拜經濟產生負面影響。上述人士認爲，阿聯酋金融中心與伊朗南部地區經過數十年形成的經濟聯繫，並非那麼容易就會瓦解。8月18日至19日，因監測到境內遭兩枚從伊朗發射的彈道導彈攻擊，阿聯酋宣佈暫停與德黑蘭的一切貿易、商業和金融交易。