JAPAN DEC CPI DROPS FURTHER ON LOWER ENERGY COSTS; HOTEL FEE DROP EASES AMID PANDEMIC

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese consumer prices posted a slightly sharper drop in December as energy costs continued falling. But a spike in coronavirus cases later in the month appeared to have slowed the use of the government-financed hefty discounts on hotel and transport charges, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication […]

FOMC TO STAND PAT IN SEEKING MORE INFLATION, EMPLOYMENT

–Fed Officials Agree in Principle; Only Time Will Tell On Implementation By Steve Beckner (MaceNews) – Important questions but only tentative answers abound as the Federal Reserve approaches its first monetary policy meeting of the new year in a mood to await further economic, financial and, yes, public health developments before changing its policy settings. […]

ECB SITS ON ITS HANDS. SAYS DECEMBER FORECASTS HOLD DESPITE LOCKDOWN

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank left all policy instruments on hold at its latest rate-setting meeting, stressing the ECB’s most recent economic projections envisioned the risk of the strong Covid containment measures currently in place through much of Europe. Forecasts published in December “were predicated on lockdowns lasting through”the first […]