Most Federal Reserve Officials Nowhere Near Ready to Cut Rates Again
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Few Federal Reserve officials have completely foreclosed the possibility of resuming interest rate reductions at some point, but for the foreseeable future, the U.S. central bank appears to be firmly on hold. The Federal Open Market Committee may well get around to cutting the federal funds rate at least […]
Preview: Forecasters See Tokyo Core CPI +1.7% in February on Year, Below BOJ 2% Target
for release: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Feb. 26) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases February Tokyo CPI. Mace News survey median: total CPI +1.4% y/y (range: +1.2% to +1.5%) vs. Jan +1.5%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +1.7% (range: +1.6% to +1.8%) vs. Jan +2.0%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh […]
Japan’s December Core Machine Orders Soar Record 19.1% to 18-Year High, Driven by Large Industrial Orders, Persistent Computer Demand from Services Sector
–Cabinet Office Keeps View After October Upgrade: Orders Showing Signs of Pickup –Official: December Rise After November’s 11.0% Dip Indicates Trend Not Strong Enough to Revise Up View By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of business investment in equipment and software, surged a record 19.1% on the month […]
Preview: Forecasters See Slower CPI Inflation in January
Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Feb. 19) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases January CPI.Mace News median: total CPI +1.6% y/y (range: +1.5% to +1.7%) vs. Dec+2.1%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +2.1% y/y (range: +2.0% to +2.1%) vs. Dec +2.4%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +2.7% y/y (range […]
Preview: Forecasters See Machinery Orders Rebounding in December as Capex Seen Solid
Thursday, Feb. 19, 20260850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Wednesday, Feb. 18) The Cabinet Office releases December machinery orders.Mace News median: core orders +3.2% m/m (range: +1.0% to +5.0%) vs. Nov -11.0%; +1.0% y/y (range: -0.5% to +4.4%) vs. Nov -6.4% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of […]
Update: IMF Official: BOJ Expected to Raise Policy Rate to 1.5% by Two 25-Basis Point Hikes This Year, One Next Year
–Updates with Official Remarks at Briefing, Background –IMF: BOJ Policy Interest Rate Below Estimated Neutral Rate, Echoing Recent Comments of BOJ Governor Ueda –IMF: Continued Unwinding of Monetary Stimulus to Lift BOJ’s Overnight Rate to Neutral In 2027 –IMF Advises Against Lowering 10% Sales Tax, Hails PM Takaichi Plan to Suspend it for 2 Years […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Fund Managers Stay Bullish in February
–Investors Favor Eurozone, EM Markets over U.S. By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global fund managers remained “uber-bullish” in February, according to the latest Bof Global Fund Managers survey, released Tuesday. Given this mindset, any rise in asset prices during the first quarter of 2026 may prove “much harder when all positioned for it,” […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Exports Up 11.9%, Imports Up 3.1% on Year in January
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 20260850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Tuesday, Feb. 17) The Ministry of Finance releases January trade.Mace News survey median: exports +11.9% y/y (range: +4.9% to +14.5%) vs. Dec. +5.1%; imports +3.1% y/y (range: -2.4% to +7.0%) vs. a revised +5.2% in December from +5.3; trade deficit ¥2,211.45 billion (range: a deficit of ¥2,461.70 […]
Japan Week Ahead: Prime Minister Takaichi Set to Be Re-Elected in Diet After Ruling Conservative Party LDP Clinches Supermajority in General Election
–Q4 GDP to Confirm Tepid Rebound, January Trade to Indicate Solid Export Growth, Q4 Machine Orders Seen Up, Inflation Easing Further By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will go through a largely ceremonial parliamentary vote on Wednesday to be re-elected after the […]
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 […]