FOMC STATEMENT: Qtr-Point Cut as Expected; Ends Reduction of Aggregate Securities Holdings Dec 1
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the Federal Open Market Committee’s policy statement released Wednesday: Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low through August; more recent indicators are consistent with these developments. Inflation […]
Conservative Ruling Party Leader Takaichi Elected Japan’s First Woman Prime Minister, Picks Former MOF Official Katayama as Finance Minister
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi was sworn in as the country’s first woman prime minister on Tuesday, shifting the gear to the right on the political spectrum and inheriting the decades-old task to achieve economic growth that comes with sustained wage hikes and stable inflation. Takaichi, […]
Japan Weekahead: BOJ Board Member Who Called for September Rate Hike Speaks amid Elevated Inflation, Sluggish External Demand
– Diet to Elect Prime Minister after ruling LDP Lost its Small Coalition Partner By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic and political events for the coming week. Ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting on Oct. 29-30, one of the two board members who have called for a further […]
Former Fed Gov. Warsh: Would Implement ‘Regime Change’ if Named to Succeed Powell
By Steven K Beckner (MaceNews) – Former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh was sharply critical of the U.S. central bank Thursday evening— criticizing its forecasts and performance. Warsh, who is said to be on President Trump’s short list to succeed Fed Chair Jerome Powell when his term expires in May, said that if he is […]
Powell Cites ‘Significant Downside Risks’ To Jobs; Puts Less Emphasis On Inflation
– Can’t Ease Too Quickly, But Easing Too Slowly Would Mean ‘Painful” Job Losses By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell avoided giving an overt signal about what the Fed will do with interest rates later this month, but clearly leaned toward greater concern about a softening labor market than about […]
Japan LDP Leader Takaichi’s Premiership Prospects in Limbo After Sudden Exit of Coalition Partner, Stirring Market Uncertainty
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Sanae Takaichi, who became the Liberal Democratic Party’s first female leader in early October, is facing a critical moment after the abrupt departure of its long-time coalition partner, Komeito, ending more than a quarter-century of alliance. The unexpected breakup could heighten volatility in Japanese stocks, government bonds and currency […]
Fed Officials Wrestle with Appropriate Policy Path amid Data Fog
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As they move closer to their penultimate monetary policy meeting of the year later this month, Federal Reserve policymakers continue to give mixed signals on the path of interest rates. While there have been overt calls for additional rate cuts, and while some officials have indicated an openness to […]
Japan Weekahead: New Ruling Party Leader Takaichi to Set Policy Agenda, Seek Close Contact Between Government and Central Bank
— Bank of Japan Releases Quarterly Regional Economic Report, Survey on Consumer Sentiment, Inflation Outlook By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic and political events for the coming week. Now that the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party has elected its new leader, Sanae Takaichi, the focus is on what economic and […]
NY Fed’s Williams: FOMC Has ‘Balancing Act’ Between Inflation, Employment
– Monetary Policy Still Restrictive; To Make Meeting-by-Meeting Judgment on Risks – Employment Risks Up; Inflation Pressure Lessening; Tariffs Not As Bad As Feared – Other Fed Officials More Hesitant To Cut Funds Rate Furthermore By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – After cutting interest rates mid-month to guard against “undue” weakness in the labor market […]
Fed Officials Continue to Diverge on Where Funds Rate Should Go in Future
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials have expressed general support for lower interest rates this week but have diverged on how much further monetary easing might be warranted. Some officials have made clear they want additional cuts in the key federal funds rate after the Fed’s rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee voted […]