Japan May Exports Post 15th Straight Y/Y Rise on Reopening Demand for Steel, Electronic Parts
–Imports Hit Fresh Record High on High Energy Costs, Leading to 10th Straight Trade Deficit –Exports to China Mark 2nd Straight Y/Y Drop on Covid Lockdowns By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Global reopening demand for iron and steel and semiconductors continued driving Japanese exports to surpass year-earlier levels for the 15th month in a row […]
<strong>BOI Cuts Italy ’22-’23 Growth on Ukraine Effects But Sees Recovery Signals As Investment Set To Rise</strong>
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The Bank of Italy on Friday cut country growth forecasts for 2022-2023 on fallout from the war in Ukraine and energy price hikes, but sees ‘robust’ signs of recovery as government aid to struggling families and European Union-wide pandemic investments start to bear fruit. GDP growth is now projected […]
Japan May Producer Inflation Eases on Slower Crude Oil Rise After Hitting 41-Year High in April
–BOJ’s Kuroda Committed to Easing Stance Despite Weak Yen, Seeing Slower Prices in FY23 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan eased in May to 9.1% on the year as crude oil and non-ferrous metal prices fell from the previous month, reflecting recent international markets, but April’s 9.8% spike, although downwardly revised from […]
Preview: Japan Q1 GDP Slip Seen Revised Down Slightly on Softer Capex
–Forecasts for Weaker Capex, Higher Private Inventories Based on MOF Survey –Private Consumption Seen Flat, Unrevised from Preliminary Data –Q2 GDP Growth Expected to Rebound As Covid Restrictions Eased By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economic slump in the January-March quarter, which was caused by the drag from Covid restrictions on consumer spending and a […]
EU Likely to Clear Soon Russian Oil Boycott; Rome Now Pressing for Ban on Russian Gas – Italian Coalition Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy expects Hungary to accept a European Union plan to ban Russian oil by the end of the week, and Rome is pressing for an EU-wide ban on all Russian fossil fuels including gas, according to Italian ruling coalition sources. “There has been a delay in the approval of […]
Japan April Tokyo CPI Jumps to Around 2% as Mobile Phone Charge Discount Base Effects Ease Off 
–BOJ Board Sees CPI Jump in FY22 as Temporary; FY23 CPI to Slip Back to 1% –Utilities, Food Prices Lead Inflation; Impact of Energy Market Spike Seen Fading Next Year –Energy Prices Post 1st Slowing in Current Y/Y Rise Phase; Govt Subsidies Capping Gasoline Markups By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in consumer […]
Italy Draghi’s Meeting with US President Biden Set To Bolster Common Anti-Russia Transatlantic Energy Strategy – Italian Coalition Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s upcoming trip to the US will seek to bolster the anti-Russia transatlantic energy strategy as Italy takes on a leadership role in Europe in moving toward “gradual” independence from Russian oil and gas, said ruling coalition sources. On May 10 Draghi will meet with […]
US ISM Manufacturing Growth Slows in April on China Lockdowns, High Prices
–ISM: Manufacturing Sector at Pause as Buyers Wait for Prices to Come Down –ISM: Supply Constraints Not Getting Worse; ‘Very Concerned’ Over China Port Situation –ISM: No Indication of Softening Demand in US Despite Q1 GDP Contraction By Max Sato (MaceNews) – US manufacturing activity growth slowed in April, hit by labor shortages, high prices […]
FOMC Seems Sure to Go 50 Basis Points on May 4, but After That Rate Path Uncertain
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – It now seems all but guaranteed that the Federal Reserve will raise short-term interest rates for a second straight Federal Open Market Committee meeting in early May, but it is less certain what the Fed will do thereafter. With a 50 basis point hike in the federal funds rate on May 4 considered a foregone conclusion, the real […]
Japan March CPI Rise Accelerates on Energy, Food; Subsidies Cap Gasoline Prices 
–Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 7th Straight Y/Y Gains –Utilities Continue Pushing Up Energy; Durable Goods Price Drop Eases –Most of Base Effects of Sharp Mobile Phone Fee Discounts To Fade in April –Fiscal 2021 Total, Core Inch Up, Core-Core (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Posts 1st Drop in 9 Years By Max Sato (MaceNews) […]