BANK OF CANADA’S GRAVELLE: POLICY-MAKERS ‘HOPEFUL,’ WATCHING DATA AS ECONOMY REOPENS

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Bank of Canada policy-makers are hopeful the pandemic’s economic impact has peaked, but admit there’s much uncertainty how the recovery will unfold, BOC Deputy Governor Toni Gravelle said Thursday. Gravelle, in remarks prepared for delivery during an online meeting, said the bank will be watching economic data closely to gauge the […]

ECB EXPANDS BOND BUYING PROGRAM, DECLINES FURTHER EASING MEASURES

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank expanded its emergency asset purchase program but declined to activate any further measures in what it calls its “policy toolkit,” despite forecasting a fall in inflation to just above zero. The ECB’s pandemic emergency purchase program, or PEPP, will increase by €600 billion to €1.35 […]

SIFMA SURVEY: ’20 GDP -5.5%; ’21 +4.7%; NO NEGATIVE RATES

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – A survey of 26 chief economists of global and regional financial institutions Tuesday saw U.S. fourth quarter to fourth quarter GDP falling 5.5% this year and rebounding strongly next year with a 4.7% gain. The survey, taken through May 28, also found no expectation for the Federal Reserve to purposely employ […]

BANK OF ENGLAND’S SAUNDERS CALLS FOR MPC TO COMMIT TO FURTHER ASSET PURCHASES

External MPC Member Refuses to Be Drawn on Negative Interest Rates By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – A Bank of England rate setter has urged the Monetary Policy Committee to commit to further asset purchases at its upcoming meeting, but refused to be drawn on the possibility of negative interest rates in the UK. Addressing […]

BOE’S BAILEY HINTS THAT EXPANDED QE WILL PRECEDE ANY RATE CUT

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey Wednesday suggested that the UK central bank is likely to expand its quantitative easing program before embarking on any move to nudge interest rates into negative territory. “We have signaled that we stand ready to do more within the framework of policies we […]

FED’S BEIGE BK: SEVERE DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE; NO QUICK RECOVERY SEEN

–Some Recent Improvement in Autos –Not Seeing Full Hirebacks WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book survey of economic activity across the country Wednesday chronicled the continuing – and in some regions, deepening – severe disruption caused by the pandemic with some Districts finding low expectations for a quick rebound and complete rehirings. […]

ECB’S LAGARDE: EUROZONE ECONOMY LIKELY TO SHRINK 8-10% IN 2020

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The eurozone economy could shrink by as much as 10% this year, according to the European Central Bank president, a more shallow contraction than envisioned under the bank’s most severe forecast scenario. Addressing an online European youth event, Christine Lagarde predicted the eurozone will suffer a downturn “about double” […]

BOE’S HALDANE SOUNDS CAUTIOUS NOTE ON NEGATIVE UK RATES

— Sees “Modest” Recovery in Recent Consumer Spending LONDON (MaceNews) – The Bank of England’s chief economist sounded a decidedly cautious note on the possibility of negative interest rates in the UK, just a week after BoE Governor Andrew Bailey confirmed that sub-zero rates are actively under review.  “Reviewing and doing are different things,” said […]

BANK OF CANADA TAKING RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH DURING ‘UNKNOWABLE TIMES’

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada continues to pursue a risk management approach to policy-making as it faces multiple challenges and uncertainties stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, retiring Governor Stephen Poloz said Monday. The risk management approach to implementing the bank’s inflation mandate means the bank considers multiple economic models and incorporates soft […]

DATA PREVIEW: US REGIONAL DATA, CONFIDENCE KEY RELEASES

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The May 25 week starts off with the Memorial Day holiday, but it quickly speeds up from there. Regional conditions data for May are the highlight of the week, with reports from the Philadelphia, Dallas, Richmond and Kansas City Federal Reserve banks and the Chicago PMI on tap ahead […]