Update: Japan Week Ahead: Markets Look for Signs of Follow-Up BOJ Move in A Few Months After Milestone Rate Hike in June, Warning about Inflation
–Updates to Show New Date for Monthly Economic Report –June Tokyo CPI Inflation Seen Accelerating on Rising Costs for Plastics, Other Goods amid Mideast Materials Supply Squeeze but Still Below 2% BOJ Target By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Financial markets are expected to be volatile in the coming week after Iran announced on the weekend […]
Fed Officials Not Ready To Move Rates Either Way as Iran Uncertainty Continues
— Rate Hike Sentiment Rising, But Most Inclined to Be Patient — Easing Bias Seems Increasingly Likely To Go By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials leaned half heartedly toward a potential tightening of monetary policy this week, as they struggled to keep up with the vicissitudes of the Iran conflict and its […]
US ISM Services Sector Activity Picks Up in May but Faces Mideast Conflict Impact of Higher Costs of Fuels, Other Oil Products; Employment Remains Weak
–ISM’s Miller: Fed Likely to Hold Interest Rates Steady in Near Term as Inflation Mainly Due to Fuel Prices, Exerting Some Downward Pressure on Growth By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. services sector activity accelerated in May after slowing in the previous two months thanks to higher new orders, but the sector continues to face […]
Fed Officials Remain Wary of Changing Funds Rate, But Inflation Concerns Paramount
— Balance Sheet Policy Due To Come Into Focus As Warsh Takes Charge By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the Jerome Powell era gives way to the Kevin Warsh regime at the Federal Reserve, Fed officials continue to warily contemplate whether the U.S. central bank’s short-term interest rate settings need to be adjusted. For […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Bulls Turn into Bears In March As World Growth Outlook Sours and Inflation Expectations Rise.
–Cash Levels ‘Jump Sharply’ In March –Geopolitical Conflict Top Tail Risk by Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global fund managers turned from bullish to bearish in March, with shifting sentiment driven by a souring world growth outlook and rising inflation expectations, according to the latest Bof Global Fund Managers survey, released Tuesday. Accordingly, cash […]
Most Federal Reserve Officials Are Unwilling To Resume Interest Rate Cuts Yet
– A Few Favor More Easing, But Most Focus On Curbing Inflation, Not Boosting Jobs By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With relatively rapid economic expansion underpinning the labor market and with inflation remaining stubbornly high, most Federal Reserve officials sound increasingly disinclined to resume interest rate reductions after the Fed’s rate-setting Federal Open Market […]