· South Korea’s Asia Business Daily, citing an unidentified source, reported on Tuesday that North Korea had been observed moving a rocket that appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) towards its west coast.
· Russia reserves the right to further reduce the number of U.S. diplomatic staff in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, adding that Moscow would not do that for now.
· British shoppers increased their spending in August at the fastest pace so far in 2017, excluding a surge in April caused by the Easter holiday, but there is little sign yet that the squeeze on spending is easing, retailers said on Tuesday.
Retail sales grew by an annual 1.3 percent on alike-for-like basis, which strips out changes in store size, the British Retail Consortium said
· North Korea could launch yet another missile as soon as Saturday when the country celebrates its founding day, hot on the heels of its biggest-to-date nuclear test.
"I think another ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile] test ... could come on Sept. 9. The North Koreans love to put on a big show for their big national holiday," said Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the U.S.-based Center for the National Interest.
For North Korea, the timing of weapons tests is of strategic importance.
"They're going to want to get the most attention they can," Kazianis told CNBC in August. That means Pyongyang is unlikely to provoke at a time when it expects another major event to be dominating the headlines, he suggested.
World leaders roundly condemned the nuclear test, with several calling for new sanctions on North Korea. But the country is likely to continue with the provocations, which are key components of Pyongyang's strategy to be recognized as a nuclear state and reduce U.S. support for Seoul, analysts said.
· President Trump said on Sunday that the United States could consider stopping all trade with countries doing business in North Korea, in a move that could spell economic catastrophe for the pugnacious country.
One problem: It would mean economic disaster for the United States as well.
· U.S. oil prices rose on Tuesday as the gradual restart of refineries in the Gulf of Mexico that were shut by Hurricane Harvey raised demand for crude, their main feedstock.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $47.55 barrel at 0656 GMT, up 26 cents, or 0.55percent, from their last settlement.
In international markets, Brent crude futures dipped 3 cents to $52.31 a barrel as traders were cautious on oil - seen as a riskier asset - and instead preferred gold, an investor safe-haven, following North Korea’s most powerful nuclear test to date.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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