Preview: Bank of Canada Set to Slow Its Rate Cut Pace to 25 Basis Points Wednesday While Seeking Shelter from Imminent US Import Tariff Storm
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada is widely expected to trim its policy interest rate – the target for overnight lending rates – by a “more gradual” pace of 25 basis points to 3.0% on Wednesday in a pre-emptive move to help shield the economy from the threat of stiff tariffs on […]
Fed Officials Continue Cautious Monetary Policy Mood in Wake of December Data
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials reaffirmed their sense of caution about the future course of monetary policy in wake of a surprisingly strong December employment report, which was widely interpreted as greatly diminishing hopes for interest rate cuts this year. Officials were already speaking hesitantly about resuming monetary easing, variously calling […]
Fed Gov. Cook, Other Fed Officials Tread Carefully on Monetary Policy Outlook as 2025 Begins
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook joined other Fed officials Monday in opening the new year with ambiguous comments about the outlook for monetary policy. Cook, like several colleagues, gave no indication she is eager to resume interest rate reductions in 2025, preferring to wait to see how inflation and […]
BOJ Governor Ueda: Japan Economy on Track Toward Higher Interest Rates but Central Bank Needs More Confidence in Sustained Wage Hikes
–Ueda: Bank May Get Enough Data in March or April to Decide on Next Rate Hike By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Friday that the bank’s policymakers may receive clearer data and information in March or April that would allow them to decide confidently whether to go ahead with […]
FOMC Cuts Funds Rate 25 BP; Strongly Hints at Rate-Cutting Pause
– Powell: After 100 BP of Cuts, Policy Rate Closer to Neutrality – Powell: Now Appropriate to Ease More Cautiously, Slowly By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Three months after it began a decisive easing of monetary policy, the Fed took a tentative step on Wednesday toward slowing or perhaps interrupting that process. Much as […]
Preview: Close to 50/50 Chance in Bank of Japan Conducting Its 3rd Rate Hike of Current Cycle This Week as Policymakers Measure Risks
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The chance of the Bank of Japan board hiking its policy interest rate by another 25 basis points to 0.5% this week is close to 50/50 as the bank’s policymakers ponder various risks amid growing domestic and global uncertainties. One thing is certain. The bank is staying the course of […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: US Growth Optimism, Fed Rate Cut Expectations Drive ‘Super Bullish’ Sentiment at Year-end
–US Stock Allocation Highest on Record –Cash Allocation at All-Time Lows, Triggers Contrarian Sell Signal, BOA Says By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – U.S. growth optimism and Fed rate cut expectations drove the “super-bullish” risk sentiment seen at year-end, according to BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Tuesday. A net 7% of […]
Bank of Canada Cuts Policy Rate by Another Jumbo 50 Basis Points as Expected; Governor Sees ‘More Gradual’ Approach Toward Future Rate Cuts
–BoC Repeats: Will Take Policy Decisions One Meeting at a Time–Governor Macklem: Discussed Both Options of 25 and 50 Basis Point Cuts amid Mixed Economic Data–Macklem: Further Rate Cuts to Be More Gradual Than 2 Consecutive 50-Bps Cuts; Deliberately ‘Pretty Wide Zone’ By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada on Wednesday lowered its […]
Preview: Bank of Canada Seen Set to Trim Key Interest Rate by Another 50 Basis Points to 3.25% Wednesday, Likely to Signal More Cuts Coming to Prop Up Economy
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada is widely expected to slash its policy interest rate – the target for overnight lending rates – by yet another large-sized 50 basis points to 3.25% on Wednesday to safeguard the economy from the chilling effects of its own 17-month rate hike campaign through mid-2023 aimed […]
Cleveland Fed’s Hammack: FOMC Is Getting Close To Needing to Slow Rate Cuts
– Need to Keep Monetary Policy ‘Modestly Restrictive’ To Reduce Still High Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve is approaching a point where it should “slow the pace” of interest rate reductions, new Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Beth Hammack said Friday. Hammack, a voting member of the Fed’s rate-setting Federal […]