BOE GOVERNOR DOWNPLAYS FEARS OF UK ECONOMIC SCARRING
— Declines to provide timeframe for consideration of negative interest rates By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The U.K. may escape significant economic scarring as a result of the Covid epidemic, particularly if an effective vaccine becomes widely available in 2020, according to the country’s top central banker. The Bank of England’s fears of permanent […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY- OF TRADITION AND LEGACY
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. Veterans Day saw the opening of the National Museum of the United States Army, a beautiful huge structure situated in the immense Fort Belvoir, one of the U.S. military’s most high tech installations […]
ECB’S KNOT: COVID VACCINE DOES NOT DISPEL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
— Stresses Fiscal Policy Must Undertake Havy Lifting Vs Q4 Downturn By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The rapid development of a Covid vaccine is unlikely to provide a quick fillip to the battered European economy, according to a top European Central Bank official. While welcoming the announcement of positive medical trial results released on […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY- ONWARD TO THE BIDEN EITHER-OR PRESIDENCY
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. First, everything is in the new context of Donald Trump not being Joe Biden’s problem any more. The angst of disappointment and the very emotional rejection of reality is not unexpected, surprising or […]
CLEVELAND FED’S MESTER: ECONOMY TO NEED CONTINUED MONETARY, FISCAL SUPPORT
–Fed Needs To Think About How Low Rates Affect Financial Risks By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Although the U.S. economy has been recovering “faster than anticipated,” the Federal Reserve still needs the assistance of fiscal policy in returning to full employment and a more acceptable inflation pace, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester […]
BOE SUGGESTS UK BANKS BETTER PREPARED FOR SUB-ZERO RATES THAN IN 2009
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – British banks are are sufficiently capitalised to continue lending even if official rates eventually fall below zero, according to two Bank of England rate setters Friday. Negative rates are most effective “when banks’ balance sheets are not under pressure for other reasons,” as was the case during the financial […]
STATUS CHECK – STILL COUNTING, FUMING AND SUING
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. Peace, harmony and finally a resolution to a hard-fought campaign? Of course not. This is 2020. Thursday night and key states still too close to call, with Joe Biden’s lead in Arizona diminishing […]
FED’S POWELL ACKNOWLEDGES SLOWDOWN, NEED FOR STIMULUS
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell was as low key as possible in answering questions about the latest policy meeting as vote counts are deciding the next president but he did drop a hint that the asset purchase program may be in for some innovation. “The recent rise in new […]
FOMC POLICY STATEMENT AS IS
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the Federal Open Market Committee policy statement issued Thursday, which added nothing to the previous stand-still statement: The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals. The COVID-19 […]
ECB RATE SETTER SEES VALUE IN A SYMMETRICAL INFLATION TARGET
— Bundesbank’s Weidmann refuses to rule out further ECB rate cuts By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – A key European Central Bank official Thursday expressed support for symmetrical inflation targeting, and suggested that the Bank could cut rates further into negative territory to lift stubbornly-low Eurozone inflation back to target. A “make-up” strategy that allows […]