US ISM Services Sector Afloat over Optimism for Better Business in 2026 but AI Boom Causing Capacity Concerns; Overall Cost Pressures Remain High
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The U.S. services sector posted a 19th straight month of expansion in January on general optimism that things will turn around in 2026 in the aftermath of Trump tariff storms but the pace of activity was flat on the month as data center expansion is causing capacity concerns and rising […]
Update: Japan Week Ahead: Bank of Japan Set to Hike Rates amid Easing Uncertainty over Trade Rows, Focus on Governor Ueda Remarks on Estimated Neutral Rate
–Adds Context to Economy Watchers Survey in Paragraphs 15-17 (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week, with the market focus on what the governor of the Bank of Japan will say about a widely expected interest rate hike and how much more the bank should lift the overnight rate […]
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 […]
Report: Japan, U.S. Mull Possible Trump Visit to Tokyo in Late October
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan and the United States are in talks over a possible visit by President Donald Trump to Tokyo in October, ahead of his planned trip to South Korea for an international summit, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. The visit would mark the first in-person meeting between Trump and the […]
Japan Weekahead: Ruling, Opposition Parties Gear Up for October Snap Elections Widely Expected after Conservative LDP Picks Leader
–Bank of Japan to Stand Pat amid Political Storm Following PM Ishiba’s Resignation, Board Monitors Trump Tariff Impact on Q3 Data–August Data to Highlight Tariff Impact: Japan Carmakers’ Discount Strategy Keeps Their US Market Share but Depresses Export Values–Core CPI to Ease Below 3% on Summer Fuel Subsidies, Yen’s Relative Strength Vs. Slump in Early […]
US TARIFFS STATE OF PLAY: EU Signs On; China, Not Yet; Tariff Regime Fragile As Most of the Transition Lies Ahead
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Thursday’s 10a ET oral arguments in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is one of the several legal challenges of President Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs,” a stark reminder that much of the entire U.S. tariff regime could suddenly collapse, requiring the refund of all the billions of […]
Preview: Bank of Canada Set to Pause for 3rd Straight Meeting amid Sticky Core Inflation, Uncertainty over US Trade Row Impact on Growth, Costs
–BOC Widely Expected to Keep Policy Rate at 2.75% Wednesday After 7 Rate Cuts Totaling 225 Basis Points from June 2024 Until March 2025–Focus is on Whether Bank will Continue to ‘Proceed Carefully’ and Remain ‘Less Forward-Looking Than Usual’ By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada is widely expected to maintain its policy […]
US ISM Manufacturing Stays in Contraction in June as Uncertainty Over Trade Conflicts Keeps Firms on Sidelines, Leading to Weak Demand, More Layoffs
–ISM Manufacturing Index at 49.0 Vs. 48.5 in May, Consensus at 48.8–ISM’s Spence: Production Up but Still Fragile, New Orders Falling–Spence: Orders Unlikely to Pick Up Until Trade, Geopolitical Risks Wane By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity was in contraction for the fourth straight month in June as the uncertainty over protectionist U.S. […]
Preview: Bank of Japan Q2 Tankan to Show Business Sentiment Slipped as Trump Tariffs Hit Auto, Metal Industries, High Costs Slow Consumers Spending
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan business survey is forecast to show confidence was flat or deteriorated in most categories in the June quarter, hit by Trump tariffs on vehicles, metals and other goods, with automakers lowering export prices to pay for higher import costs for U.S. customers, according to […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Ishiba in Rough Waters amid High Costs After Ruling LDP’s Tokyo Assembly Poll Setback Ahead of Upper House Election Next Month
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic and political events for the coming week following no change in the Bank of Japan’s policy interest rate and a slower tapering pace for the bank’s government bond purchases in fiscal 2026. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a setback in Sunday’s Tokyo assembly […]