Japan Weekahead: BOJ Board Member Speaks After 7-to-2 Vote for No Change in Policy Rate at October Meeting; Producer Inflation Seen Easing Slightly
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. There is no major movement on the political front. Producer inflation is expected to show some signs of more stability in the October report, which may have an easing effect on consumer inflation in about six months. The core […]
Fed Officials Bear Out Powell Saying December Rate Cut ‘Not Foregone Conclusion’
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The outlook for U.S. monetary policy remained murky Thursday, following the latest barrage of comments from Federal Reserve officials…. Divisions among Fed policymakers have continued to emerge in wake of last Wednesday’s interest rate cut, leaving in doubt whether they will be able to agree on another reduction when […]
TRANSCRIPT: Fed Chair Powell Says December Rate Cut ‘Not a Foregone Conclusion’
–‘Strongly Differing Views’ About December FOMC WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is a transcript of most of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Wednesday post-FOMC meeting news conference: … Beyond the next year or two, or so; however, most measures of longer-term expectations remain consistent with our 2% inflation goal. For monetary policy actions are guided […]
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 […]
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 […]