Japan Government Still Sees Gradual Economic Recovery but Also Warns that High Import Costs, Tight Materials Supply to Weigh on Growth
–Some Economists Project Q2 GDP Dip as Effects of Mideast Conflict on Consumption, Capex to Become More Pronounced By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government is sticking to its gradual economic recovery scenario after the January-March GDP data confirmed a steady recovery from a mild slump two quarters earlier but officials continued to warn about […]
Inflation Making Fed Officials Increasingly Prone To Keep Funds Rate As Is, If Not Higher
– Schmid: Inflation ‘Most Pressing Risk To The Economy’ – Hammack: FOMC Must Make ‘Tough Tradeoffs” to Guarantee Low Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With the war against Iran worsening price pressures in the United States, Federal Reserve officials are not only leaning toward keeping monetary policy on hold indefinitely, they seem increasingly […]
Japan Week Ahead: US Treasury Secretary Bessent Goes to Tokyo on Way to US-China Summit, Meeting PM Takaichi, Others, After Suspected Japan FX Intervention
–Household Spending Seen Sluggish amid Rising Costs, Producer Inflation Accelerating on Mideast Conflict By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Trading returns to normal after the Golden Week holidays that ended on Wednesday, May 6. Government policymakers have also returned from international meetings and diplomatic visits. The […]
Japan Keeps Cautiously Optimistic Economic Outlook as Bulls Drive Tokyo Stocks Higher on Hopes of End to Mideast Conflict, Resumed Gulf Shipping
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government continues to expect a gradual economic recovery, backed by strong demand for investment in artificial intelligence, while Tokyo stock markets keep flirting with record highs on hopes of an end to the Iran war that would allow reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for oil and gas […]
Fed’s Jefferson: FOMC ‘Well-Positioned’ To Face Upside Inflation, Downside Job Risks
–– Williams: FOMC Is Now ‘Really Well-Positioned’ To ‘Wait and See’ — Goolsbee: Fed in ‘Very Uncomfortable Situation; Facing Danger of ‘Stagflation’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Phillip Jefferson said Tuesday evening that monetary policy is “well-positioned” in a war-influenced environment of both upside risks to inflation and downside risks […]
Japan Week Ahead: Diet Set to Enact Stop-Gap Budget, Continues Debating Record Spending in Fiscal 2026 Budget amid Spike in Oil Prices
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Lawmakers are set to approve a stop-gap budget to ensure uninterrupted social security payments and other essential spending while undergoing the final process of debating and enacting the full-year budget for fiscal 2026 starting April 1. Just as many households […]
Fed Vice Chair Jefferson, Others Call For Stand Pat Rate Stance Amid War Worries
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Just over a week after the Federal Reserve’s policymaking Federal Open Market Committee left short-term interest rates unchanged, majority thinking on the course of monetary policy is little changed, judging from Fed policymakers’ recent comments. Fed Vice Chairman Phillip Jefferson and other members of the Fed Board of Governors […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Takaichi Back to Inflation Fighting after Performing in Trump Diplomatic Theater; February Core CPI Seen Drifting Below BOJ’s 2%, Calm Before Iran War Storm
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Following last week’s majority decision by the Bank of Japan’s board to pause in its gradual rate hike process, CPI data for February is forecast to show core inflation moderated to an annual rate below the bank’s 2% target as […]
FOMC Leaves Funds Rate Unchanged in 3.50-3.75% Target Range
– Participants Project one 25 BP Rate Cut to 3.25-3.50% By End Of 2026 – Gov. Miran Only Dissent; Favored 25 BP Rate Cut – FOMC: Economic ‘Implications of Developments in Middle East…Uncertain’ – Participants Revise ‘Longer Run” (Neutral) Funds Rate From 3.0% to 3.1% – Powell: Must ‘Wait and See’ War Impact; Balance Upside […]
Japan Week Ahead: National Wealth Eroded by High Import Costs, Exports Weathering Trump Tariffs Thanks to Demand from Europe, Asia
–Bank of Japan in No Hurry to Raise Interest Rates to Counter Any Reversal in Easing Inflation amid Mideast War By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Parliamentary debate on the fiscal 2026 budget continues at the key lower house budget committee. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is […]