UPDATE: Fed Officials Take Cautious Approach to Further Rate Cuts As Late Jan FOMC Nears

– Harker Still Sees Rates Heading Lower; But Now ‘Appropriate To Take A Pause’ – Collins Calls for ‘Patient Approach to Policy’; Cuts Could Go Faster or Slower – Schmid: Funds Rate May Already Be ‘Neutral;’ Favors Further Balance Sheet Shrinkage – Bowman Urges ‘Caution;’ Monetary Policy Not As Restrictive As Some Think  By Steven […]

Japan’s Government Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery Despite Sluggish Consumption, Flat Real Wage Growth Amid Food-Led Inflation

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue despite sluggish consumer spending and flat real wage growth amid high costs for food and other necessities. In its monthly report for December released Friday by the Cabinet Office, the government said the economy is […]

Japan Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery but Warns It Now Needs to Watch Future US Policy amid Headwinds of Inflation, Middle East Tensions, Weak Yen

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue thanks to wage hikes amid widespread labor shortages, but urged a close watch on the future U.S. government policy as well as lingering high costs for necessities, geopolitical risks and the weak yen. In its […]

Japan PM Kishida Says He Will Not Seek Re-Election at LDP Leadership Convention Next Month, Hoping to Calm Voter Rage Over Political Funding Scandal

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday announced that he will not seek re-election at the Liberal Democratic Party leadership convention in late September, taking the blame for widespread political funding scandals at the ruling party, a key factor behind sluggish voter support for the administration. Kishida, 67, will step […]

Italy Eyes More Medium-Long Bonds to Lengthen Debt Life – Sources 

According to Rome’s government that has carried out several surveys, longer maturities appeal to Italian families as they tend to have lots of savings they prefer to invest in long term investments, and trust the state to hold their money more than banks.  “The era of zero rates is over, which means that the cost […]