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 CLARIDA: HAVEN’T CHANGED MIND VS NEGATIVE RATES

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarida Thursday said he has not changed his mind, that there’s no upside to purposely move to negative rates. Speaking in a webinar sponsored by the New York Association for Business Economics, Clarida also underlined the points made Wednesday and previously by Fed Chair Jay Powell, […]

FED’S WILLIAMS: OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN; TO USE TOOLS ‘TO THE UTMOST’ FOR RECOVERY

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve remains open to taking more steps as needed to support the recovery, though negative interest rates are not on the table, New York Fed President John Williams said Thursday. Williams, answering questions during a webcast with a regional business group, said the economic outlook and the likely course […]

BANK OF CANADA’S LANE SEES ECONOMY, INFLATION DEPRESSED POST-COVID

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Canada’s economy is likely to emerge from the Covid-19 shutdown period with weaker supply and demand, and lower inflation, due to shutdown “scarring,” Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Tim Lane said Wednesday. “While the steps we have taken should help, we are likely to emerge from the shutdown with both demand […]

BOE’S BAILEY ADMITS TO ‘CHANGING HIS POSITION;’ WON’T RULE OUT NEGATIVE LENDING RATES

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey declined Wednesday to rule out further reductions in lending rates, admitting that he has “changed his position” on sub-zero rates since mid-March. Facing a question on negative rates posed by Felicity Buchan, a Conservative Member of Parliament serving on the Treasury Select Committee, […]

FED’S ROSENGREN: MUST NOT GIVE UP PROGRESS ON CONTAINING VIRUS IN RUSH TO REOPEN

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – U.S. economic challenges reflect public health concerns, and it’s critical that progress on containing Covid-19 not be undone as businesses and other activities reopen, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren said Tuesday. “Public health solutions are paramount – without them, it will be virtually impossible to return to full employment,” Rosengren said […]

BANK OF CANADA: FIN SYSTEM ‘RESILIENT,’ COPING W/ COVID-19, OIL SHOCKS

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Canada’s financial system “remains resilient” in the face of Covid-19 and the oil price shock, with support from Bank of Canada policy, and strong private capital and liquidity buffers, even as the economic outlook remains uncertain, the bank said Thursday.  “Strong policies have put a floor under the economy and laid […]

WHITE HOUSE WATCH COMMENTARY: FIGHTERS, HATERS AND UNSUNG HEROES

By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – There is a basic problem in news coverage of the pandemic, the fact that the virus culture wars are much more interesting than the fight against the virus itself. When President Trump calls an answer from NIH’s Tony Fauci “unacceptable” as he did Wednesday, the president’s fans are cheering […]

FED’S POWELL WARNS OF DANGERS OF LONG SHALLOW RECOVERY

–Emergency Aid So Far May Be Only the Beginning –‘Recovery May Take Some Time to Gather Momentum’ — ‘Additional Fiscal Support Could Be Costly’ –Negative Rates ‘Not Something That We’re  Looking At.” By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The battle of recovery narratives – swift and sharp versus shallow and long – Wednesday saw one […]