FOMC: Tapering ‘May Soon Be Warranted’ If Progress Continues

Half of FOMC Participants Now See Funds Rate Hike By End 2022 Powell Says FOMC Could Announce Bond Buying Cuts At Nov. 2-3 Meeting Powell Says Inflation Test More Than Met; Employment Goal ‘All But Met’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve took another incremental but very significant step toward making monetary […]

FOMC Policy Statement: Tapering ‘May Soon be Warranted’

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday put off any declarations on when it might begin the tapering process other than saying “it may soon be warranted.” Inflation? It’s still largely transitory.. The text of the statement follows: The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the […]

Commentary: Ignoring the US Housing Timebomb

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The latest trove of housing data Wednesday collected by the National Association of Realtors provided more definition to America’s bifurcated housing market, one in which the haves get what they want, expensive houses that are available for sharply escalating prices, and the have nots, the younger generations buying their first home, who […]

BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, Sees Resilient Japan Economic Pickup Amid Pandemic

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Wednesday it is maintaining its stimulative policy, as expected, to support a gradual recovery from the pandemic-caused slump and continue its eight-year-old campaign to guide low inflation toward stable 2%. The central bank largely left its view on Japan’s resilient economic pickup amid the pandemic […]

Eurozone Consumer Inflation Rose 3.0 Percent in August, Confirming Flash Estimate

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Inflation in the Eurozone rose to 3.0 percent in August, led by double-digitgrowth in energy costs, according to the latest report from Eurostat. Today’s result confirmed the flash estimate released previously and is faster than the 2.2 percentannual rate registered in July. Inflation has risen consistently over the past twelve months; a […]

Japan Govt Sees Slower Economic Pickup Amid Disrupted Supply Chains, Pandemic Spike

— Consumption, Factory Output Downgraded While Exports on Track By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday provided a more cautious view of the recent pickup in the domestic economy, saying its pace is slowing in the face of global supply chain disruptions and a surge in coronavirus cases, according to its monthly report released […]

Japan Aug Export Rise Slows; Trade Deficit on Energy, Vaccine Import Surge

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports continued rising at a double-digit rate on year in August after the pandemic-triggered 2020 slump, but their momentum lost steam amid global supply chain disruptions and rising Covid-19 cases, data released Thursday by the Ministry of Finance showed. Demand for Japanese iron and steel as well as semiconductor-producing […]

US, UK And Australia Announce ‘New Alignment’ in the Indo-Pacific

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the White House transcript of the background press call on AUKUS, the sweeping declaration of cooperation among the U.S., the UK and Australia, to strengthen joint defense against China. The transcript of the call, held on an embargoed basis before the official announcement available at whitehouse.gov, adds much additional […]

Japan July Machine Orders Rebound Slightly; Pickup from 2020 Continues

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, rebounded slightly in July, staying on course toward a second consecutive quarterly rise in July-September, data released Wednesday by the Cabinet Office showed. Orders from manufacturers marked the fourth straight rise while those from non-manufacturers posted the first […]