Analysis: Inflation-Wary FOMC Seems Headed Toward a Quicker Pace of Tapering, Rate Hikes
– Wage-Price Trends Have Dramatically Changed the Fed’s Policy Calculus By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Who would have imagined just a short time ago that the Federal Reserve would not only be accelerating reductions of asset purchases before year’s end, but signaling an intention to raise short-term interest rates sooner and more rapidly than […]
Italy Backs EU Council’s Switch To Qualified Majority Voting, ‘Key’ To Boost Integration
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy supports switching from unanimity in votes on tax and defense policy within the European Council to a qualified majority, which according to ruling coalition sources will speed up the decision-making and integration process. The proposal of changing the voting system within the EU Council, which represents member states, […]
Japan Oct Household Spending Dip Slows on Eased Covid Restrictions
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending posted the third straight year-on-year drop in October but the pace of decline decelerated from September as the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The number of new Covid-19 cases […]
Italy-France Pushing for ‘Single EU Debt’ to Fund Post-Pandemic Growth; Germany’s Stance on Closer Fiscal Integration in Post-Merkel Era Uncertain – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy and France are pushing for issuance of a ‘common European public debt’ to fund long-term pro-growth investments with the additional goal of strengthening the single currency and boosting European integration, Italian official sources say. Sources say Europe faces a turning point with the departure of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, […]
No US Government Shutdown
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Senate late Thursday agreed with an earlier vote in the House and successfully avoided a government shutdown Friday night. The Senate vote was a bipartisan 69 to 28 to extend the current federal budget to Feb. 18. An earlier Senate vote that could have demolished the plan of […]
Election of Italy’s Next President Will Favor ‘Continuity of Policy’ with Draghi’s Cabinet – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The appointment by parliament of Italy’s next head of state is likely to raise political tensions as parties seek a deal on the successor, with rising speculation that current premier Mario Draghi could be taking over the role, according to ruling coalition sources. Officials argued that coming weeks will […]
Eurozone Economic Confidence Fell in November, Matching Expectations
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in the countries sharing the euro fell in November, falling 1.1 points to 117.5, according to the latest report from the European Commission. The result was exactly in-line with the median of an Econoday survey of economists’ forecasts. Among sectors for the eurozone in November the results were as follows: […]
Japan Oct Retail Sales Rebound on Fuel Price Spike, Eased Covid Restrictions
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the first year-on-year rise in three months in October as fuel prices continued going up and the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed. The METI maintained its assessment that […]
Text of Pres Biden’s Announcement of Omicron Restrictions On Travel From SAfrica, 7 Other Countries
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the text of President Biden’s announcement Friday of Omicron restrictions on travel from South Africa and seven other countries: Statement by President Joe Biden on the Omicron COVID-19 Variant This morning I was briefed by my chief medical advisor, Dr. Tony Fauci, and the members of our COVID response […]
Japan Nov Tokyo CPI Y/Y Rise Hits 16-Month High on Surging Energy, Food
— Utility Charges Following Lead of Soaring Gasoline, Heating Oil Costs— CPI Remains Under Pressure From Mobile Communication Fee Discounts By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in the core reading of consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, accelerated in November amid double-digit percentage gains in utility and fuel […]