ISM: US Services Sector Expands for 4th Straight Month in October on More Jobs but Surprise Index Rise Also Caused by Slower Deliveries in Wake of Hurricanes

–ISM Services Index at 56.0 Vs. 54.9 in September, Well Above Median Forecast 53.5 –ISM’s Miller: Index Likely to Slip Back to 53 or 54 in November as Impact of Hurricanes Subsides –Miller: Positive Comments Spreading to More Industries but Uncertainty over US Political Climate Lingers By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Business activity in the […]

US October ISM Manufacturing in Contraction for 7th Straight Month as New Orders Remain Sluggish amid Jitters Over Potentially Inflationary Economic Policy Post Election

–ISM Manufacturing Index at 46.5 vs. 47.2 in September, Below Median Forecast of 47.6 –ISM’s Fiore: ISM Index Likely to Pick Up Above Neutral Line of 50 in February 2025 –Fiore: Hurricanes Had Temporary, Limited Impact, Hampering Some Output, Lifting Costs –Fiore: Right-Sizing Workforce Across Industries Continues By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity […]

Japan Keeps Its View on Economic Recovery After Ruling Coalition Loses Majority in Lower House Election; BOJ’s Stance of Gradually Raising Rates Seen Intact

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue after the ruling coalition lost a majority in the Lower House election Sunday, setting the stage for a tight race to elect the prime minister between the conservative Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition […]

Fed Officials Taking Patient, Measured Approach to Further Rate Cuts

By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – After getting off to an aggressive, though belated, start on monetary easing, Federal Reserve officials seem inclined to take a more measured approach going forward. Policymakers who have spoken over the past week or so have expressed a clear willingness to cut the federal funds rate further from what […]

Japan’s New PM Ishiba Forms Stability First Cabinet, Seeks Smooth Ties with Central Bank

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is seeking to establish close coordination with Bank of Japan policymakers as he was sworn in on Tuesday with an aging, male-dominated cabinet that still symbolizes stability among a largely conservative voting population. Hailing from a political family, Ishiba, 67, vowed to provide a sense of […]

Powell: Fed in No Rush To Cut Rates; Will Move Faster Or Slower As Data Dictate …

– Powell Sees No More than 50 Basis Points of Further Cuts by End-2024 By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Monday that he and his fellow monetary policymakers will adjust the pace of future interest rate cuts based upon the pace of economic growth, employment and inflation, but are […]