Japan’s Government Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery Despite Sluggish Consumption, Flat Real Wage Growth Amid Food-Led Inflation
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue despite sluggish consumer spending and flat real wage growth amid high costs for food and other necessities. In its monthly report for December released Friday by the Cabinet Office, the government said the economy is […]
BOJ Governor Ueda: Japan Economy on Track Toward Higher Interest Rates but Central Bank Needs More Confidence in Sustained Wage Hikes
–Ueda: Bank May Get Enough Data in March or April to Decide on Next Rate Hike By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Friday that the bank’s policymakers may receive clearer data and information in March or April that would allow them to decide confidently whether to go ahead with […]
FOMC Cuts Funds Rate 25 BP; Strongly Hints at Rate-Cutting Pause
– Powell: After 100 BP of Cuts, Policy Rate Closer to Neutrality – Powell: Now Appropriate to Ease More Cautiously, Slowly By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Three months after it began a decisive easing of monetary policy, the Fed took a tentative step on Wednesday toward slowing or perhaps interrupting that process. Much as […]
Preview: Close to 50/50 Chance in Bank of Japan Conducting Its 3rd Rate Hike of Current Cycle This Week as Policymakers Measure Risks
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The chance of the Bank of Japan board hiking its policy interest rate by another 25 basis points to 0.5% this week is close to 50/50 as the bank’s policymakers ponder various risks amid growing domestic and global uncertainties. One thing is certain. The bank is staying the course of […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: US Growth Optimism, Fed Rate Cut Expectations Drive ‘Super Bullish’ Sentiment at Year-end
–US Stock Allocation Highest on Record –Cash Allocation at All-Time Lows, Triggers Contrarian Sell Signal, BOA Says By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – U.S. growth optimism and Fed rate cut expectations drove the “super-bullish” risk sentiment seen at year-end, according to BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Tuesday. A net 7% of […]
Bank of Canada Cuts Policy Rate by Another Jumbo 50 Basis Points as Expected; Governor Sees ‘More Gradual’ Approach Toward Future Rate Cuts
–BoC Repeats: Will Take Policy Decisions One Meeting at a Time–Governor Macklem: Discussed Both Options of 25 and 50 Basis Point Cuts amid Mixed Economic Data–Macklem: Further Rate Cuts to Be More Gradual Than 2 Consecutive 50-Bps Cuts; Deliberately ‘Pretty Wide Zone’ By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada on Wednesday lowered its […]
Preview: Bank of Canada Seen Set to Trim Key Interest Rate by Another 50 Basis Points to 3.25% Wednesday, Likely to Signal More Cuts Coming to Prop Up Economy
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada is widely expected to slash its policy interest rate – the target for overnight lending rates – by yet another large-sized 50 basis points to 3.25% on Wednesday to safeguard the economy from the chilling effects of its own 17-month rate hike campaign through mid-2023 aimed […]
Cleveland Fed’s Hammack: FOMC Is Getting Close To Needing to Slow Rate Cuts
– Need to Keep Monetary Policy ‘Modestly Restrictive’ To Reduce Still High Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve is approaching a point where it should “slow the pace” of interest rate reductions, new Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Beth Hammack said Friday. Hammack, a voting member of the Fed’s rate-setting Federal […]
Powell: Fed Can Afford to Be ‘More Cautious’ About Easing Toward ‘Neutral’
– Cites Strong Growth; Low Unemployment; ‘Higher’ Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell strongly suggested Wednesday that he favors a gradual, careful approach to further interest rate reductions. Powell said the Fed is in the process of lowering short-term interest rates to a “more neutral” level but said the […]
ISM: US Services Sector Expands for 5th Straight Month in November but Posts Sharp Slowdown on Trump Tariff Concerns, Slow Fed Rate Cuts
–ISM Services Index at 3-Month Low of 52.1 vs. 56.0 in October, Well Below Median Forecast 55.5–ISM’s Miller: Trump Tariff Complications Not Accelerating Ongoing Move Away from China–Miller: Higher Costs of Sourcing from Mexico Likely to Be Resolved Via North American Trade Pact As in Past By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Business activity in the […]