FOMC Holds Funds Rate Steady as Powell Sees ‘No Hurry’ To Ease Policy
– Sees Risks Up for Both Higher Unemployment And Higher Inflation – Powell Says FOMC May Have to Make Tough Policy Choice but No Need Now By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Facing heightened uncertainty about how the Trump administration’s trade and other policies will affect the economy, Federal Reserve policymakers once again marked time […]
TRANSCRIPT: Fed’s Powell Says Wait and See Effects of Tariffs on Inflation, Unemployment
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell Wednesday said in several different ways the Fed has to wait and see whatever effects on inflation and unemployment come from whatever the ultimate tariff rates are imposed on China and other countries – and beyond that, he said very little more. A transcript of the post-FOMC […]
FOMC Stands Pat, Sees Risks Up for Both Unemployment, Inflation
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday, as expected, decided to maintain its policy rate and the only notable addition to the policy statement was that the Fed sees “the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen.” The policy statement follows: Although swings in net exports have affected the data, recent […]
ISM: US Services Sector Expands in April for 10th Straight Month but Trump Tariffs Keep Outlook Uncertain
–ISM Services Index Picks Up to 51.6 Vs. 50.8 in March, Above Consensus (50.2)–Slight Pickup Led by 3 Out of 4 Key Subindexes: New Orders, Employment, Supplier Deliveries (Slower Deliveries)–Employment Subindex in Contraction for 2 Months in a Row–ISM’s Miller: More Industries Mention Trump Tariff Impact on Costs–Miller: Must Watch for Profits, Survival of Smaller […]
US ISM Manufacturing Remains in Contraction in April as Trump Tariffs Choke Demand, Prompting Firms to Slash Output, Shed Payrolls amid High Costs
–ISM Manufacturing Index at 48.7 vs. 49.0 in March, Above Consensus (47.9)–ISM’s Fiore: Tariff Concerns Account for 82% of April Survey Comments vs. 67% in March, Overshadowing Any Kind of Demand Comment–Fiore: Don’t Think US in Recession but PMI Indicates Moving in That Direction–Fiore: Not a Tariff Fan; Firms Won’t Invest, US Consumers Will Pay […]
Preview: Japan Q1 GDP to Post 1st Contraction in 4 Quarters as High Costs Keep Consumers Wary, Exports Remain Flat amid Uncertain Global Growth Prospects
–Global Trade War May Lead to 2nd Straight GDP Slump in Q2 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the January-March quarter is forecast to post its first contraction in four quarters, down a slight 0.1% on quarter, or an annualized 0.4%, in payback for a technical jump in net exports in […]
Canadian Prime Minister Carney Leads Ruling Liberal Party to Minority Win in Tight Race with Conservatives in Snap Elections
–Former Central Banker Calls for Unity to Fight Threat to Canada’s Sovereignty By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is projected to have led his ruling Liberal Party to a slight minority victory in general elections on Monday, defeating the main opposition Conservative Party by promising to build Canada into the strongest […]
Japan Finance Minister Kato: Didn’t Discuss FX Levels, Framework with US Counterpart Treasury Sec Bessent
–BOJ Governor Ueda: To Hike Interest Rates Gradually If Outlook for 2% inflation Sets in By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato told a news conference on Thursday in Washington that he and his U.S. counterpart didn’t discuss guiding the currency market toward a weaker dollar against yen to help trim the […]
FED’S BEIGE BOOK: Analysts See ‘Pre-Downturn’ Assessment of Tepid Economy Coast to Coast
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s latest “Beige Book” survey Wednesday of economic conditions in all 12 Fed Districts reflected widespread uncertainty because of shifting trade policy, softening consumer spending and worsening outlooks that hinted at an economy on the precipice of a downturn. The following is the national summary and District-by-District snapshots from the […]
Japan Seeks to Tide Over Trade War by Shoring Up Consumption, Keeps Gradual Economic Recovery View Despite Mixed Business Sentiment, Rising Inflation Risks
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its cautiously optimistic assessment for the eighth straight month, saying the economy is expected stay on a “modest recovery” track, but highlighted the growing uncertainty around the world triggered by the protectionist U.S. trade policy under President Trump. In its monthly report for April released Friday by […]