STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: WASHINGTON’S IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE AT INFLECTION POINT
–‘I Have a Dream’ or “I Have a Nightmare?’ WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. • Great battles seldom preserve the status quo and the one shaping up in Washington could greatly accelerate ideological change or usher in an […]
DATA PREVIEW: HOUSING WEEK AND HOPEFULLY NEW BEGINNINGS
–Domestic Terrorism, Mounting Virus Death Tolls, Deep Divisions Overwhelm Data WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The upcoming week’s events, an Inauguration Day in the armed camp “Green Zone” that is now D.C. amid threats of violence at statehouses across the country, overshadows what little economic data will be published. The week begins with a holiday, progresses to […]
FED’S POWELL: NOW NOT TIME TO TALK ABOUT EXIT; WON’T CONSIDER UNTIL GOALS REACHED
— Vows To Communicate Very Clearly To Markets To Avoid 2013-style ‘Taper Tantrum’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stressed Thursday that the Fed is far from “exiting” either its zero short-term interest rate stance or its aggressive asset purchase program and proclaimed that the Fed will clearly communicate its […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: THE WASHINGTON MINDSET GETS A MAKEOVER
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. • The thousands of government affairs specialists paid by American business firms to be their eyes, ears and arm-wrestlers in Washington are in the midst of the major recalibration that happens when a […]
PRESIDENT TRUMP NOW FACES AN UNCERTAIN FATE AT A SENATE TRIAL
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The second impeachment of President Donald Trump Wednesday has left open the future of his “stop the steal” movement entwined with the violent attack on the Capitol. The next step, a Senate trial, could clarify what happens next. The final vote was 232 to 197 with eight members not […]
FED’S BEIGE BK SEES MODEST EXPANSION AMID MIXED SIGNALS
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The surge in COVID-19 cases and “stricter containment measures” have produced mixed results for consumer spending while manufacturing has continued to recover despite weaker auto sales, the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book survey suggested Wednesday. Four districts – Kansas City, Philadelphia, St. Louis and New York – reported no improvement and “a growing […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]