Japan Nov Core CPI Posts Solid Gain Amid Rising Energy, Processed Food Costs 
— Core, Total CPI Measures Mark 3rd Straight Y/Y Gains on Tight Supply — Core-Core CPI (Excluding Fresh Food, Energy) Down For 8th Month in A Row By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Japan picked up their pace of year-on-year increase in November, led by rising utilities, fuels and processed food costs amid […]
The Manchinator Chews Through Dem’s ’22 Hopes; Republicans Rejoice
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The shock wave from what many Democrats see as Sunday’s betrayal by their own Sen. Joe Manchin, killing the Build Back Better bill supporting Democratic hopes for next year’s mid-term elections, triggered anger and despondency on one side of the aisle and rejoicing and hallelujahs on the other side. […]
Fed’s Waller Urges March Funds Rate Liftoff, Followed by Balance Sheet Shrinking
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller Friday said the Fed should start raising short-term interest rates “shortly” after it finishes buying bonds in March – perhaps immediately thereafter. What’s more, Waller advocated starting to shrink the Fed’s bloated balance sheet soon after it starts raising the federal funds rate, which […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, Tweaks Covid Funding Scheme Toward Small Firms
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Friday it is ending parts of its anti-Covid special financing program aimed at supporting large firms, whose financial conditions have improved, while extending its feature of helping hard-hit small businesses, particularly those in the service sector. As expected, the BOJ decided to maintain its interest […]
ECB To Halt PEPP Programme End of Q1, Will Beef Up APP
— Bank dramatically lifts inflation forecast LONDON (MaceNews) — The European Central Bank confirmed its emergency Covid stimulus package will conclude at the end of March, announcing an expansion of its regular quantitative easing program to begin in the second quarter, after its latest policy meeting on Thursday, The Bank also presented a marked upgrade […]
Analysis: Fed Ponders What Puts Out This Peculiar Inflation Fire
–Overheating or Super Squeezing? By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell Wednesday reassured his press conference viewers the central bank has the tools it needs to make sure aggressive inflation doesn’t last too long, reinforcing the narrative this inflation episode will meet its match. But what if the seeds of deflation […]
FOMC Doubles Taper to End Bond Buying in March as Inflation Forces Hawkish Tilt
—Three 2022 Rate Hikes Now Projected By FOMC Participants –Powell Hints At Quick Start To Funds Rate Liftoff After Taper Ends By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve policymakers moved dramatically, though not unexpectedly, Wednesday to adopt a more aggressive stance against inflation. The FOMC said it anticipates “similar reductions” in subsequent months, although […]
TEXT: FOMC Statement: Doubles Pace of Taper
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday met expectations for a doubling of the pace of tapering and participants increased their calls for three rate hikes next year. The text of the policy statement follows: The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in […]
Japan Nov Producer Price Rise Remains 4-Decade High on Energy, Commodities
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan continued rising from year-earlier levels, staying at a four-decade high, as global supply chain disruptions, albeit easing slightly, as well as labor shortages are pushing up energy and commodities markets, data released Friday by the Bank of Japan showed. By contrast, consumer inflation in Japan remains […]
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 […]