Bank of England Likely to Hold Fire at Dec MPC Meeting

–Omicron Variant Set to Delay Rate Hike Widely Expected Before Year End–Sharp Rise in November Inflation Could Provide Spirited Discussion LONDON (MaceNews) – The Bank of England is likely to keep rates on hold at Wednesday’s final rate-setting meeting of the year, with the U.K. returning to partial Covid restrictions as the Omicrom variant sweeps […]

ECB Set to Clarify Future of PEPP; Upgrade Inflation Forecasts

— But Details of Post-PEPP Stimulus Unlikely to Come From Dec Meeting LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank is likely to provide greater detail on the winding up of its emergency asset purchase programme following its policy meeting this week, but is unlikely to say much about further quantitative easing. “This is more of […]

BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey:  Global Investors Increase Cash Holdings In December In Anticipation of World Central Bank Tightening in 2022

–On Average, Investors Expect Fed Taper to End by April 2022 By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors increased their cash holdings in December, wary of putting new monies to work ahead of expected world central bank tightening in 2022, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released […]

PREVIEW: BOJ Dec Tankan To Show Mixed Sentiment, FY21 Capex Plans

–Sentiment Among Manufacturers Seen Flat After Recent Gains–Non-Manufacturers Likely Report Better Sentiment on Eased Covid Rules–Major Firms Expected To Revise Down Their Capex Plans–Smaller Firms Tend To Revise Up their Capex Plans Later in Fiscal Year By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan business survey is expected to show confidence among […]

Japan Nov Producer Price Rise Remains 4-Decade High on Energy, Commodities

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan continued rising from year-earlier levels, staying at a four-decade high, as global supply chain disruptions, albeit easing slightly, as well as labor shortages are pushing up energy and commodities markets, data released Friday by the Bank of Japan showed. By contrast, consumer inflation in Japan remains […]

Italy Backs EU Council’s Switch To Qualified Majority Voting, ‘Key’ To Boost Integration

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy supports switching from unanimity in votes on tax and defense policy within the European Council to a qualified majority, which according to ruling coalition sources will speed up the decision-making and integration process. The proposal of changing the voting system within the EU Council, which represents member states, […]

Japan Q3 GDP Slump Revised Down on Weaker Consumption, Exports

— Q4 GDP Rebound Expected Amid Uncertainty Over Covid Impact By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economic contraction in July-September quarter was revised down sharply as consumer spending and net exports turned out to be weaker than previously estimated and a buildup in private-sector inventories was lower than thought, more than offsetting an upward revision […]

Japan Oct Household Spending Dip Slows on Eased Covid Restrictions

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending posted the third straight year-on-year drop in October but the pace of decline decelerated from September as the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The number of new Covid-19 cases […]

No US Government Shutdown

By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Senate late Thursday agreed with an earlier vote in the House and successfully avoided a government shutdown Friday night. The Senate vote was a bipartisan 69 to 28 to extend the current federal budget to Feb. 18. An earlier Senate vote that could have demolished the plan of […]