Japan News Media Polls: Ruling Conservative LDP on Track to Score Landslide Win in Feb. 8 Lower House Election, New Opposition Centrist Alliance Trailing
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese news media polls conducted between Feb. 3 and Feb. 5 and released Thursday point to a landslide victory for the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the Feb. 8 lower house election, with the party on track to secure a significantly larger win than indicated by initial surveys. None […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Producer Price Rise Slowing to 2.3% Y/Y in January
Thursday, Feb. 12, 20260850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Wednesday, Feb.11) The Bank of Japan releases the January corporate goods price index.Mace News median: CGPI +2.3% y/y (range: +2.0% to +2.4%) vs. Dec +2.4%; +0.2% m/m (range: -0.1% to +0.3%) vs. Dec +0.1% By Chikafumi Hodo (MaceNews) – Japan’s producer inflation is expected to rise on […]
Analysis: Discordant Fed Voices Keeping the Outlook for Monetary Policy Hazy
– Some Want To Resume Rate-Cutting; Others Oppose; Others Unsure By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With the Federal Reserve having taken a much-anticipated pause in interest rate reductions last Wednesday, financial market participants worldwide are anxious to know when the Fed might resume cutting rates and by how much, but officials are giving no […]
Preview: Japan Q4 GDP to Rebound on Gains in Capex, Consumption, Exports, but Momentum Remains Weak
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Backed by gains in capital investment, gradual rises in exports, and continuing modest recovery in private consumption, Japan’s real gross domestic product is expected to rebound and post its first positive growth in two quarters in the October–December period, following a sharp contraction in the previous quarter. Still, the […]
US ISM Services Sector Afloat over Optimism for Better Business in 2026 but AI Boom Causing Capacity Concerns; Overall Cost Pressures Remain High
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The U.S. services sector posted a 19th straight month of expansion in January on general optimism that things will turn around in 2026 in the aftermath of Trump tariff storms but the pace of activity was flat on the month as data center expansion is causing capacity concerns and rising […]
US ISM Manufacturing PMI Surges to 41-Month High on Vague Optimism About Demand Comeback but Uncertainty Over Trump Tariffs Continues to Choke Supply Chains
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity sprang back to life in January, marking the first expansion in 12 months backed by unclear optimism that demand will improve, but overall sentiment remains gloomy, hit by the lingering uncertainty caused by protectionist U.S. trade policy. The purchasing managers index compiled by the Institute for Supply […]
Japan Week Ahead: Newspapers Predict PM Takaichi’s LDP Likely to Win Simple Majority in General Election but Warn Things Could Change Closer to Feb. 8 Vote
–Household Spending Seen Indicating Resilient Consumption in Q4 GDP Expected to Post Rebound After Economy’s 1st Contraction in 6 Quarters in Q3 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. So, there was no actual market intervention by the Ministry of Finance to sell dollars for yen last […]
Preview: Japanese Household Spending Expected Up 0.1% on Year in December with Ongoing Boost from Autos
Friday, Feb. 6, 20260830 JST (2350 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Feb. 5) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases the December and the annual 2025 average household spending. Mace News median forecasts: +0.1% y/y (range: -3.7% to +1.0%) vs. Nov +2.9%; -0.4% m/m (range: -3.5% to +0.1%) vs. Nov +6.2% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) […]
FOMC Leaves Funds Rate Unchanged; Suggests Easing Pause Will Continue
– FOMC Signals No Hurry To Resume Easing with Unemployment ‘Stabilizing’ – Powell: Fed ‘Well-Positioned’ To See how ‘Solid’ Economy, Jobs, Inflation Unfold By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve declined Wednesday to lower interest rates further in its first monetary policy meeting of the year, despite enormous pressure to do so from […]
FOMC Chooses Middle Ground, With No Rate Cut and Inflation Only ‘Somewhat Elevated,’ Unemp Showing Some Signs of Stabilization
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the text of Wednesday afternoon’s Federal Open Market policy statement: Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization. Inflation remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment […]