THAILAND: Thaksin Shinawatra Flies to Singapore Ahead of PM Vote

• Canada June trade balance widened to -5.9B after -CAD5.5B in May .  
• Exports rose for the second straight month driven by energy +0.9% MOM in June following +2.0% in May. Imports +1.4% MOM, first increase in four months due to a one-time high value shipment of industrial machinery and equipment.
• Trade surplus with the U.S. widened to +CAD3.9B in June from +CAD3.6B in May. Excluding the U.S., trade deficit widened to -CAD9.8B in June from -CAD9.1B in May.
• Q2 exports -12.8% QOQ while imports -3.9%. Q2 exports -5.4% YOY.
• May trade deficit revised to -CAD5.5B from -CAD5.9B.

Pres Trump on CNBC refers to previously-mentioned Kevins - NEC director Hassett and ex-Fed Gov Warsh - as candidates to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed Chair, saying there's also "other" candidates in the running ("both Kevins are very good, and there are other people that are very good too.") 

• However, he also says that one of the previous administrations officials considered to be a candidate, Treasury Secretary Bessent, removed himself from consideration for the role.
• When current Gov Waller's name was brought up among other candidates, Trump did not have anything specific to say about him.
• Bessent and Waller are/were arguably the most "orthodox" choices for the role among the short-list of assumed favorites.
• Warsh remains the perceived favorite though Trump's mention of Hassett appears to improve his standing. Waller is a slight outsider in terms of the odds.
• Trump also said that the next Fed Chair could possibly also be the person who replaces Gov Kugler who resigned last week before the end of her term in January.

• MNI: US REDBOOK: JUL STORE SALES +5.4% V YR AGO MO
• US REDBOOK: STORE SALES +6.5% WK ENDED AUG 02 V YR AGO WK