FOMC Lifts Funds Rate Another 75 Bp to Near ‘Neutral’ 2.25-2.50% Range

– Powell Signals More Hikes to Come but Unclear About Pace, Level – Powell Repeats Fed Needs ‘Compelling Evidence’ Inflation Heading To 2% Target – Amid Slowing, Powell Cites Risk of ‘Doing Too Much’ Or ‘Too Little’ Tightening – Powell Repeats Need ‘Moderately Restrictive’ 3-3.5% Funds Rate Range End-22 By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – […]

FOMC Hikes By 0.75 Pt As Expected; Bare-Bones Statement Cites Elevated Inflation

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday did the expected, a three-quarter point rate hike which brings monetary policy to the brink of tightening instead of simply removing accommodation. In a bare-bones statement, the FOMC saw spending and production “softened” along with still-robust job gains and elevated inflation. “The Committee is highly attentive […]

White House and Other Schedules for Wednesday, July 27

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Wednesday’s schedules for the White House, Treasury, USTR, the State Department and Capitol Hill as well as US data and Federal Reserve events:    DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FORWEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022 In the morning, the President will receive the President’s Daily Brief virtually. This meeting will be closed press. In-Town […]

FOMC Set to Keep Ratcheting Rates Higher Despite Worries About ‘Oversteering’

By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Since raising short-term interest rates more aggressively in mid-June, misgivings have cropped up among Federal Reserve officials about raising rates too far, too fast, but such sentiments must contend with worsening inflation news that has made it all the more imperative in most minds to demonstrate the central bank’s […]

FED’S BEIGE BK: ‘CONCERNS OVER AN INCREASED RISK OF RECESSION’

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The normally bland Beige Book survey of economic activity coast-to-coast included some dark clouds of pessimism in its latest iteration Wednesday, seeing increased risks of recession and “growing signs of a slowdown in demand.” The survey, for review at the next Federal Open Market Committee meeting toward the end of the month, […]

Fed’s George: Fed Must ‘Act Decisively’ Vs. Inflation, But Not Too Fast

– Case for Tightening ‘Clear-Cut’ But Speed ‘An Open Question’ – Hiking Rates Too Fast Could Create ‘Strains,’ Increase Recession Risks – Warns of Inverting Yield Curve, Upsetting Markets While Shrinking Balance Sheet – Urges More ‘Steady’ And ‘Predictable’ Rate Hikes By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George […]

FOMC Minutes: Fed Officials Leaned Toward More Tightening Despite Downside Risks

– 50-75 BP Hike in July Envisioned – Policy Might Need to Become ‘Even More Restrictive” than Anticipated By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials tilted toward a more restrictive monetary policy at their mid-June Federal Open Market Committee meeting despite signs of a slowing economy, minutes released Wednesday reveal. Not only did […]

<strong>Powell: Rates Must Rise To “Restrictive” Levels to Curb Demand, Inflation</strong>

– Still Hopes For ‘Soft Landing’ but Achieving It ‘More Challenging’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that he and his fellow monetary policy-makers must continue to raise short-term interest rates into “restrictive” territory to validate financial market expectations and successfully fight inflation. Powell, testifying on the Fed’s […]

White House and Other Schedules for Wednesday, June 22

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Wednesday’s schedules for the White House, Treasury, USTR, the State Department and Capitol Hill as well as US data and Federal Reserve events:    DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FORWEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022  In the morning, the President will receive the President’s Daily Brief. This meeting will be closed press. In the afternoon, […]

White House and Other Schedules for Thursday, June 16

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Thursday’s schedules for the White House, Treasury, USTR, the State Department and Capitol Hill as well as US data and Federal Reserve events:  DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FORTHURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022  In the morning, the President will receive the President’s Daily Brief. This meeting will be closed press. In the afternoon, […]