Bank of Canada Sees Rate Hike in Mid-2022, Earlier Than Forecast Before

–BOC Brings Forward Rate Hike Timing From 2nd Half 2022 on Economic Pickup–BOC Revises Up 2022 CPI Forecast Sharply Higher, Slashes 2021 GDP Projection–Central Bank Keeps 0.25% Policy Rate As Expected But Ends Asset Purchases By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada left its record-low policy interest rate unchanged Wednesday but revised its […]

ECB’s Monetary Policy To Stay On Course Despite Inflation Rise – BOI

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank’s monetary policy is expected to remain accommodative despite the “significant” but “temporary” rise in inflation across the eurozone, the Bank of Italy said in its Economic Bulletin released on Friday. According to the BOI “the significant rise in inflation is attributable to the increases in […]

ANALYSIS: Japan Faces Cost Inflation Amid Weak Yen, Slow Wage Growth

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Rising energy and commodities prices may help lift Japan’s near-zero inflation rate but a further rise in the costs for daily necessities would dampen already wobbly consumer spending and surging producer prices would hurt small businesses that cannot pass higher input costs on to customers amid uncertain growth prospects. Japan […]

Fed’s Beige Book Sees ‘Significantly Elevated Prices’

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s survey of economic conditions coast to coast Wednesday found “significantly elevated prices” and some regional Fed districts in which growth slowed, hampered by labor shortages, supply disruptions and, of course, the Delta variant. Auto sales declined and some districts “noted increased uncertainty and more cautious optimism than in previous […]

Bundesbank’s Weidmann Makes Surprise Announcement, to Step Down at Year End

— ECB Governing Council to Lose One Of Its Most Hawkish Rate Setters By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – Jens Weidmann, president of Germany’s Bundesbank, will relinquish his position at the end of 2021, ridding the European Central Bank of one its most hawkish voices. Weidmann has asked German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to “dismiss” him […]

BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey:  Increasingly Negative World Growth Outlook Prompt Former Bulls To Retreat in October

By Vicki Schmelzer — Record Underweight in Bonds On Rate Hike Jitters NEW YORK (MaceNews) – World growth expectations fell more markedly in October, prompting formerly bullish global investors to retreat, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Tuesday. Growth expectations were weighed by fears of higher interest rates, […]

BOC Q3 Survey Shows Business Sentiment Up, Tougher Supply Constraints

— More Firms in Canada See Above 3% Inflation Over 2 Years By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Sentiment among companies in Canada, particularly those in the services sector, continued to pick up in the July-September quarter on expectations of a gradual reopening of the economy and national borders, the Bank of Canada’s quarterly Business Outlook […]

NY Fed’s Williams Opposes Raising FOMC Inflation Target From 2%

–Stresses Need To Anchor Inflation Expectations at 2% By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams defended the Fed’s 2% average inflation target Friday, while emphasizing the need to solidify expectations around that rate. Williams, vice chairman of the Fed’s policymaking Federal Open Market Committee, acknowledged that the real […]

Dovish Bank of England Rate Setters Raise Questions Over UK Rate Rise

— Mann, Tenreyro argue for steady policy as recovery slows— Comments follow more hawkish stance from Bailey, Saunders over the weekend LONDON (MaceNews) — A brace of Bank of England officials dampened speculation of a near-term increase in UK interest rates on Thursday, arguing that the longer-term inflationary outlook remains benign. “I can wait” to […]

<strong>Minutes Show FOMC Preparing Taper Amid Fear of Upside Inflation Risks</strong>

Taper Could Start Soon as Mid-November, End Mid-2022, Assuming More Progress FOMC Liked Staff Plan to Cut MBS $5 Billion, Treasuries $10 Billion Per Month By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials expressed heightened concern about inflation along with greater satisfaction with labor market improvements at the Sept. 21-22 meeting of the Fed’s […]