Category: Central Banks

Fed Officials Grappling with Policy Import of Potential Iran Pact, Oil Price Dip

– After Rate Hike Odds Rose, Improved Prospect of Disinflation Causes Rethinking By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Over the course of Kevin Warsh’s first week as Federal Reserve chairman, Fed officials have been trying to factor a rapidly changing Middle East and oil market picture into their monetary policy calculations. It hasn’t been easy […]

Kevin Warsh Pledges ‘Reform Oriented Federal Reserve’ as New Fed Chair

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – In a White House ceremony attended by many dozens, Kevin Warsh Friday pledged to lead a “reform-oriented Federal Reserve” as the Dow industrials reached a new intra-day high. After being sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, whom Warsh called ‘a brilliant and independent thinker,” the new Fed chief said, “Chairman Greenspan was […]

Fed Officials Remain Wary of Changing Funds Rate, But Inflation Concerns Paramount

— Balance Sheet Policy Due To Come Into Focus As Warsh Takes Charge By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the Jerome Powell era gives way to the Kevin Warsh regime at the Federal Reserve, Fed officials continue to warily contemplate whether the U.S. central bank’s short-term interest rate settings need to be adjusted. For […]

Inflation Making Fed Officials Increasingly Prone To Keep Funds Rate As Is, If Not Higher

– Schmid: Inflation ‘Most Pressing Risk To The Economy’ – Hammack: FOMC Must Make ‘Tough Tradeoffs” to Guarantee Low Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With the war against Iran worsening price pressures in the United States, Federal Reserve officials are not only leaning toward keeping monetary policy on hold indefinitely, they seem increasingly […]

Fed Officials Point Toward Ending Easing Bias, But Leaving Rates on Hold

– Dissenters Hammack, Kashkari Focus on Inflation; Muse About Possible Rate Hikes – Williams, Others See Monetary Policy as “Well-positioned’ for Foreseeable Future – Weight of Official Concerns Has Shifted Away from Jobs to Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials have given additional hints this week that the easing bias the […]

FOMC Leaves Funds Rate In 3.5-3.75% Target Range; Keeps Easing Bias For Now

–Powell: To Stay on Fed Board After Warsh Becomes Chair –Four FOMC Participants Dissented, Three of Them Against Inclusion of Easing Bias – Powell: Monetary Policy ‘In Good Place’ To ‘Wait and See’ – Powell: Before Tightening Bias, FOMC Would First Move To ‘Neutral’ Forward Guidance By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s […]

TEXT: FOMC Statement – Keeps Easing Bias Despite Dissents; No Rate Change, As Expected

— Four Dissents, Three of Which Opposed Inclusion of Easing Basis; Miran Wanted Rate Cut WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday afternoon’s policy statement from the Federal Open Market Committee: Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Job gains have remained low, on average, and the unemployment rate […]