Japan Still Sees Gradual Economic Recovery but Warns Some Uncertainty over Trade Deals lingers, Downgrading Its View on Exporter Profits
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government continues to believe that the domestic economy is expected stay on a “modest recovery” track after top negotiators from Tokyo and Washington have worked out some details of their bilateral trade deal reached last month but also warned that uncertainty over global growth is here to stay for […]
Japan Weekahead: Factory Output to Slip Back amid Lingering Trade Woes; Retail Sales Sluggish on Waning Inbound Spending Magic, Front-Loaded Air Conditioner Demand
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. The world trade uncertainty has been reduced somewhat by accords between Washington and some U.S. allies, except for Canada, but President Trump’s erratic policymaking is leaving firms wary of making plans. Trump tariffs are taking their toll on Japanese […]
Fed’s Powell in Jackson Hole Hints at Coming Federal Funds Rate Adjustment
– Says FOMC Can Proceed ‘Carefully’ But Cites Greater Job Risks – Announces Significant Shifts in FOMC’s Monetary Policy Framework By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted Friday that the Federal Open Market Committee could resume lowering short-term interest rates when the Fed’s rate-setting body meets in mid-September. Powell made […]
Japan Weekahead: Export Values Set to Post 3rd Straight Y/Y Drop as Trump Tariffs Forcing Carmakers to Cut Prices for US Customers; Inflation to Ease Further on Fuel Subsidies
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. President Trump’s high import duties have prompted Toyota and other carmakers to trim sales prices for U.S. buyers in a bid to protect their market share in the world’s largest economy. This has led to a fall in overall […]
Fed Officials Still Divided, Unsure About When and How Much To Cut Interest Rates
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials have continued this week to muse about cutting interest rates for the first time since December when the Fed’s rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee meets in mid- September, but the FOMC remains divided and unsure. Despite an uptick in inflation, labor market worries have come to […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Global Investors Increasingly More Cautious About Growth and Inflation In August
By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors were increasingly more cautious in their views about growth and inflation in August, according to BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Monday. A net 41% of those polled this month looked for weaker global growth in the coming 12 months. This compared to a […]
Japan Weekahead: Producer Inflation Easing Further below 3%, Q2 GDP to Post Slight Rebound, Confirming Resilience Against Drag from Tariffs, High Costs of Living
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week when many people take some time off for the annual Obon holiday around Aug. 15 to bring in and send back their ancestors’ sprits. It is not a public holiday and markets will stay open but trading volumes are […]
Fed Officials Rethinking ‘Appropriate’ Monetary Policy After Weak July Jobs Data
– Gov. Cook Calls Jobs Report ‘Concerning’ – Could Mark ‘A Turning Point’ – Cook Also Sees ‘Quite Elevated’ Stocks as Potential Threat to Financial Stability – Daly Fears ‘Softening’ Labor Market; Must ‘Adjust’ Rates ‘In Coming Months’ – Collins Speaks About ‘Wait and See’ Approach Among Economic Players By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – […]
ISM: US Services Sector Slows on Weak Demand, Soft Hiring and Rising Costs as Tariffs Begin to Bite
–ISM Services Index 50.1 Vs. 50.8 in June, 49.9 in May, Below Consensus 51.5–ISM’s Miller: Employment Index’s Continued Contraction, Faster Rise in Prices Index Worrisome–Miller: Expansion in Business Activity, New Orders Indexes Highlight Resilience of Services Sector–Miller: Firms Wary of Impact of an Expected Fed Rate Cut as Inflation Remains High By Max Sato (MaceNews) […]
Preview: Japan Q2 GDP to Post Only Slight Growth after 1st Contraction in 4 Quarters in Q1 as Fear of Trump Tariff Fallout Peaks
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product is forecast to be nearly flat, up just 0.1% on quarter, or an annualized 0.4%, in the April-June quarter, at the peak of the fear that the protectionist U.S. trade policy could plunge the global economy into a tailspin. The forecasts range from a 0.1% drop […]