Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Core Machinery Orders Falling Back by 8.4% in November from October
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 20260850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Sunday, Jan. 18) The Cabinet Office releases November machinery orders.Mace News median: core orders -8.4% m/m (range: -9.4% to -4.9%) vs. Oct +7.0%; +1.0% y/y (range: -0.5x.x% to +5.8%) vs. Oct +12.5% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of […]
Fed Officials Signal No Rush to Reduce Federal Funds Rate Further in Near-Term
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With President Trump escalating efforts to get the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates, Fed officials have given very few indications this week that they will be ready to oblige when they meet later this month. While some officials have indicated a willingness to cut the key federal funds […]
Japan Week Ahead: Prime Minister Takaichi Appears Set to Call February General Elections amid Rising Tension in Middle East, Risking Delayed Budget Approval
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Market participants are getting ready for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to call a snap election at the start of the 150-day ordinary Diet session on Jan. 23 following weekend news reports that she is weighing the option of dissolving the […]
TEXT: Fed Chair Powell’s statement issued Sunday evening in reaction to extraordinary grand jury subpoenas
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is a statement issued Sunday evening by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in response to extraordinary grand jury subpoenas issued by the Justice Department: Good evening. On Friday, the Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the […]
Analysis: Japan Snap Election Chatter Heats Up as PM Takaichi Weighs Boosting Lower House Seats amid High Approval Ratings, Unstable Coalition
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Talk of snap elections is intensifying around Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as she ponders the logical option to call a snap election to lift her scandal-tainted conservative Liberal Democratic Party in the lower house before the honeymoon period wanes. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported late on Friday that Takaichi is […]
Japan November Household Spending Posts Unexpected Rebound on Autos in Routine Data Sample Shuffle, More Shopping Days, Winter Clothing Needs
–Many Remain Frugal Amid High Costs of Living, Trimming Gift Money and Switching to More Affordable Mobile Phone Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted an unexpected rebound in November, up a decent 2.9% on year (vs. consensus -1.4%), led mainly by a jump in automobile purchases due to a routine […]
US ISM Services Sector PMI Hits 14-Month High Mainly on Seasonal Effects but 12-Month Moving Average Still Low
US ISM’s Miller: Not Out of Tariffs Woods Yet but Sitting on Their Edge By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The U.S. services sector was in expansion territory for the third straight month in December as customers’ yearend budget spending lifted retailers and the flu vaccine season supported healthcare service providers but stiff Trump tariffs are […]
Still Divided Fed Officials Leave Near- term Interest Rate Cuts in Doubt
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the new year commenced, Federal Reserve officials have neither foreclosed the possibility of further interest rate reductions, nor encouraged hopes for them. With the economy just beginning to come out of a fog of uncertainty induced by the data blackout accompanying last Fall’s government shutdown, few are prepared […]
Enormous Questions After US Capture of Venezuela’s Maduro and Claimed Takeover of Oil Resources
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The stunning overnight U.S. military operation, involving thousands of troops and more than 150 aircraft, not only has captured Nicolas Maduro heading for a New York court appearance, but has brought a new geopolitical reality to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and perhaps far beyond. Though planned for months, there was no formal notification […]
Preview: Forecasters See Household Spending Down 1.4% On Year in November
Friday, Jan. 9, 20260830 JST (2350 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Jan. 8) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases the November average household spending.Mace News median forecasts: -1.4% y/y (range: -2.5% to -0.6%) vs. Oct -3.0%; +1.4% m/m (range: +0.4% to +3.3%) vs. Oct -3.5% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending […]