ECB’S LAGARDE: BANK TO FOCUS ON ‘FINANCING CONDITIONS;’ DOWNPLAYS EXPANSION OF PEPP
–Ongoing Strategic Review Will Assess Inflation Measurement and ‘Symmetry’ in Meeting Target By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank could continue to rely on its long-term financing operations to provide stimulus to the Covid-stricken euro zone economy rather than expanding its asset purchase programme, according to the Bank’s leader Wednesday. “We’re going […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: BARBARIANS INSIDE THE GATE TEST AMERICA
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday night’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. · As often noted about the U.S. Congress, months, even years can go by without much getting done but every once in a while there’s an explosion of activity. After the financial […]
FED’S GEORGE: TOO SOON TO THINK OF ADJUSTING MONETARY POLICY; MUST ‘WAIT AND SEE’
–Fed Won’t Hike Funds Rate If Inflation Goes Over 2% –Would Have To Decide How To React if Inflation Rises in ‘Unanticipated Ways’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Kansas City Fed President George said Tuesday that monetary policy needs to “remain accommodative for some time” and said it’s “too soon to speculate about the […]
BOE RATE SETTER: UK CONTRACTION EXAGGERATED BY STATISTICAL ANOMALIES
— MPC Member Broadbent suggests inflation has fallen by less than feared By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The UK economic contraction may have been exaggerated by the statistical measurement of public services, according to a Bank of England official, who also downplayed sustained below-target inflation in Britain. “Part of the drop in GDP reflects an […]
FED’S BOSTIC: READY TO ‘RECALIBRATE’ POLICY IF ECON STRONG BUT DON’T SEE 2021 HIKES
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic said Monday he would be willing to consider “recalibrating” the Fed’s monetary policy stance if the economy proves stronger than expected, but said he can’t envision raising the federal funds rate from near zero until next year at the earliest. Bostic, a […]
ITALY GOVT FACES RISK OF COLLAPSE, SHOWDOWN FOR PM CONTE OVER EU AID – SOURCES
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy faces the risk of a government crisis right in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic as the minor Italia Viva party threatens to pull out of the ruling coalition if a new ruling pact isn’t reached. A meeting scheduled on Tuesday between coalition parties will be showdown time […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: TRUMP HOPES FOR A REBOUND, FACES ANOTHER IMPEACHMENT
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Friday night’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. · The bastions of freedom are firmly in place, holding back the forces of Trump, at least temporarily. That’s right, Twitter, Facebook, Google, even Spotify have moved to keep the president off […]
DATA PREVIEW: RETAIL SALES AND INFLATION MEASURES
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Economic data in the week ahead includes the December retail sales report, along with the two major inflation measures, the CPI just a week from Inauguration Day and the PPI but market participants are unlikely to pay much attention. The major stock indexes were propelled back into record territory Friday, in part […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: THE POST-SIEGE SCRAMBLE
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday night’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. · The White House scrambled Thursday to soften the accurate perceptions of President Trump’s actions that precipitated the physical attack on Congress as various threats to his remaining few days in office […]
JAPAN NOV HOUSEHOLD SPENDING POSTS MODEST RISE ON YEAR BUT SLIPS FROM OCT AMID PANDEMIC FEARS
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending in November posted a modest rise from a year earlier, up for the second straight month, as the effects of a sales tax hike in October 2019 had faded, but consumption marked the first month-on-month decline in four months in light of rising new cases of the […]