FOMC Says Expects to ‘Soon Be Appropriate’ to Change Target Rate for Fed Funds
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the Federal Open Market Committee’s statement Wednesday of its policy stance, accompanied by a reaffirmation of its August 2020 statement that the Fed’s main tool remains changes in the federal funds rate while asset purchases diminish: Indicators of economic activity and employment have continued to strengthen. The sectors most […]
FOMC To Continue Monetary Normalization Talks As Bond Buying Winds Down
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Going into its first meeting of the year, it might seem as if the Federal Open Market Committee has already scripted its monetary policy for coming months. After all, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and his colleagues on the Fed’s policy making committee have been pretty explicit about their […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Global Investors Expect Above-Trend Growth, Inflation Peak in 2022
–Hawkish Central Bank Hikes Still Biggest ‘Tail Risk’ By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors polled at the start of 2022 looked for above-trend growth and an inflation peak in the coming year, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Tuesday. In January, a net 1% of […]
NY Fed’s Williams: ‘Makes Sense’ To Begin To Remove Accommodation
‘Dramatic’ Job Gains, High Inflation Means ‘Approaching’ Liftoff Doesn’t Expect Steep Rate Hikes; Rejects ‘Extreme Scenarios’ Funds Rate Should Go ‘Somewhere Above 2% Down The Road’ Unclear How Long After Liftoff Balance Sheet Shrinkage Will Start Not As Long As Last Time By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – New York Federal Reserve Bank President John […]
FED BEIGE BK SEES MODEST EXPANSION, HIGHER PRICES, SOME COOLING OF EXPECTATIONS, SOME SUPPLY CHAIN STABILIZATION
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The latest Beige Book survey of economic conditions coast-to-coast saw a “modest” pace of expansion as 2021 ended, with some cooling of the generally optimistic expectations for the new year and some scattered improvement in transportation bottlenecks, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday. The survey, assembled by the Kansas City Fed through January […]
Fed’s Powell Reassures on Balance Sheet Runoff, Rate Hikes, Ultimate Control of Inflation – With Reservations
–Labor Supply Can Become an Issue Going Forward for Inflation–Whether There are Three Rate Hikes This Year Depends on Data By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Without getting too specific, Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell Tuesday pledged to quickly leave behind the era of emergency measures, fighting inflation while aware its current causes are largely […]
KC Fed’s George Prefers Shrinking Balance Sheet ‘Earlier Rather Than Later’
– ‘Time Has Come’ To Transition to More ‘Normal’ Monetary Stance – Urges FOMC Should ‘Take First Step’ to Tighten Monetary Policy – FOMC Could Raise Rates First, but Must Start to Shrink Balance Sheet By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George asserted the need Tuesday for a […]
<strong>Powell Vows to Keep ‘Elevated’ Inflation From Getting ‘Entrenched;’ Doesn’t Say How</strong>
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pledges the Fed will act to prevent already “elevated” inflation from becoming further “entrenched” in congressional testimony prepared for delivery Tuesday morning. However, the Fed chief does not elaborate on how precisely he and his fellow policymakers will proceed to combat wage-price pressures in […]
FOMC Minutes Reflect Surprising Amount of Discussion Re More Aggressive Tightening – But No Conclusions
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The latest minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee released Wednesday afternoon surprised the markets with the amount of discussion about potentially more aggressive than expected tightening moves, despite the lack of any conclusions. Not only did “many participants” judge that the appropriate pace of balance sheet runoff would likely be faster […]
President Biden’s Thumbs Down Moment Fails to Dampen His Optimism
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – After months of back and forth negotiations, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has seemingly sealed the fate of President Biden’s signature agenda item, Build Back Better. The Democratic senator announced—on Fox News—that he will not support the nearly $2 trillion spending package. “I cannot vote to continue with this […]