ISM: US March Service Sector Activity Picks Up on Easing Covid Rules But Headwinds Remain 
–ISM: US Service Providers Continue Facing Surging Costs, Supply Bottlenecks –ISM’s Nieves: Fed Has to Tighten To Keep Inflation From Hurting Economy –ISM: Supply Delivery Delays Ease in March; Inventories Up but Still Too Low –ISM: War in Ukraine Pushing Up Prices, Creating Uncertainty for Many Firms By Max Sato (MaceNews) – US service sector […]
<strong>Bank of Canada to ‘Act Forcefully’ to Tame Inflation: Deputy Governor Kozicki </strong>
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki on Friday stressed that the bank’s is determined to fight inflation with more actions “forcefully,” following its first rate hike in over three years in March, and ahead of its April 13 policy decision. “We have taken action and will continue to do […]
<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 […]
BOJ January Meeting Minutes: Must See Underlying CPI Trend Amid Pickup on Rising Costs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan policy board members argued that the central bank must capture the underlying trend in consumer inflation, with a focus on slow wage hikes, even though its annual rate may come close to the bank’s 2% target temporarily as energy and commodities prices rise and the base effects […]
<strong>St. Louis Fed’s Bullard: Get Funds Rate To Neutral Or Higher To Curb Inflation</strong>
– Fed Has ‘Long Ways To Go” To Hike Rates; Should Move Faster Than In Past – After Starting ‘Passive Runoff’ Of Balance Sheet May Need To Sell Assets – Despite Ukraine, U.S. Economy Will Grow Above Potential, Further Reduce Unemployment By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With inflation “way over” the Federal Reserve’s 2% […]
Cleveland Fed’s Mester Favors Hiking Funds Rate to 2.5% This Year; More in ‘23
– Probably Need to Hike by 50 BP at Some Point; Shouldn’t Be Off the Table – Upside Inflation Risks Outweigh Downside Growth Risks From Ukraine War – Must Be Willing to Adjust Policy; Go Slower on Rate Hikes If Inflation Moderates By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester […]
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 […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, To Trim Commercial Paper, Corporate Bond Buying to Pre-Pandemic Levels
–BOJ Vows to Keep Monetary Support Until 2% Inflation Achieved –Japan Economy Likely to Recover Despite Surging Commodities Prices –‘Extremely High Uncertainties’ Over Ukraine Impact on Japan Via Prices, Markets, Global Demand By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Friday it is maintaining its interest rate targets and main asset purchase program […]
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 Lifts Off from Zero with 25bp Rate Hike; 6 More Projected for 2022
– Powell Says FOMC May Move Faster If Needed To Reduce Inflation – Says Funds Rate Could Go ‘Beyond’ Downwardly Revised ‘Neutral’ Rate – Balance Sheet Reduction Plan Could Be Announced As Soon As May Meeting By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – After holding short-term interest rates near zero for two years to support a […]