Italy Raises Pressure on EU To Cap Gas Import Prices, Ready to Adopt National Measures If EU Deal Is Delayed – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Rome’s government is raising pressure on European Union institutions to place a EU-wide cap on imported gas prices to shield families and business from an extraordinary spike in energy bills that is weakening the bloc’s economy, according to ruling coalition sources. The proposal faces opposition from Germany and Holland. […]
FOMC: Likely Bal Sheet Runoff to be $60 Bln Tsys/Month, $35 Bln MBS/Month
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee minutes released Wednesday suggested a more aggressive runoff of the balance sheet than had generally been expected – at least before Gov. Lael Brainard’s more hawkish statements Tuesday – sending markets into sudden volatility as the implications were absorbed by market participants. The details of what the […]
Italy To Raise Defense Budget To 2% of GDP, But EU Common Funding Needed – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s parliament is expected to clear on Thursday a defense budget increase to reach 2% of GDP following the Ukraine crisis, though the goal is to achieve at European level a common funding mechanism for military expenditures, according to ruling coalition sources. “We have pledged, as per NATO agreements […]
Analysis: Bank of Japan to Keep Easing Stance, To Check 10-Year JGB Yield Rise Despite Yen Fall
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan is committed to maintaining its current monetary easing framework aimed at guiding low inflation toward its 2% target despite the recent rapid depreciation of the yen, which could further push up import costs amid rising food and energy costs. The BOJ on Monday resumed unlimited fixed-rate […]
Biden Admin Budget Proposals Hit Billionaires, Deficit
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – President Biden Monday afternoon formally unveils his fiscal 2023 federal government budget proposals, increasing military spending – which Republicans like – and inventing a new tax on unrealized capital gains aimed the the richest tier of Americans – which Republican pledge to kill as fast as possible. The White House fact sheet […]
<strong>Japan Govt Sees Economic Pickup Signs, Warns of Downside Risks from Inflation, Markets, War </strong>
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Friday maintained its overview that the economy is showing signs of a pickup amid some soft spots as Covid cases appear to have peaked, but also warned that rising prices, volatile financial markets, and the war in Ukraine could heighten downside risks, according to its monthly report released […]
US Nat’l Security Adviser Sullivan: Pres Biden to Consult w/Allies on Potential Russia Use of Nukes
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Tuesday answered a reporter’s question about Russia’s use of possibly smaller nuclear weapons in Ukraine: by saying President Biden will this week, in his visit to Brussels, be consulting with allies on ‘that potential contingency.” Sullivan’s verbatim response follows: “President Putin, in the early days of […]
Analysis: Japan PM Kishida to Face Bad Economic News After Omicron Storm
–Economists Revise Down Forecasts to Show Slight Contraction in 1Q By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to face bad news on the economic front after barely surviving voter frustration over public health restrictions imposed about two months ago aimed at fighting a surge in Covid infections caused by the […]
FOMC: Qtr Point Hike As Expected; Few Specifics on Future Action
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday fulfilled expectations for a quarter-point fed funds rate hike, the first such since 2018, accompanied by a pledged to begin pulling back Treasury and Agency securities holdings “at a coming meeting.” The text follows: Indicators of economic activity and employment have continued to strengthen. Job gains […]
Rome Resumes Role On Euro-Atlantic Stage, Common Stance with US ‘Key’ In Ukraine Crisis Exit – Sources
–Ukraine’s Zelensky to address Italian lower house ROME (MaceNews) – Italy has resumed a ‘key role’ on the Euro-Atlantic stage in working on an exit from the Ukraine crisis after hosting the US-China meeting, according to sources comprising the ruling coalition. Monday’s meeting in Rome between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and top Chinese […]