GERMAN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE BOOSTED BY VAT CUT

By Marco Babic ZURICH (MaceNews) – Confidence among German consumers improved in July, bolstered by a cut in the value-added tax (VAT) and showing a V-shaped recovery in consumer confidence. The GfK index of consumer sentiment rose to -9.4 in July from -18.6 in June, driven by improvements in all of the main components, leading […]

DATA FLASH: US INITIAL CLAIMS RISE, CONGRESS DEBATES NEXT STEP

–-Initial Claims +109,000 to 1.416 Mln; Continuing Claims -1.107m to 16.197 Mln By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – As Congress debates how to deal with the end of July deadline for the extended jobless claims program, another 1.416 million initial claims were filed in the July 18 employment survey week, up 109,000 from the level in […]

STATUS CHECK: BIRX ASKS FOR NORTHEAST HELP IN FREEING TESTING FOR THE SOUTH

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s updated status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: With the VIX calmer (down) another 2% at 24.32 after-hours stock futures late Wednesday showed little movement after the day’s positive session boosting the DJIA +0.62%/+164.44. S&P finished +0.57%/+18.72; Nasdaq +0.24%/+25.76. The […]

DATA FLASH: JUNE EXISTING HOME SALES SURGE; MARKET ‘RED HOT’

–Existing Home Sales Jump 20.7% to a 4.72 Million Rate–Supply Remains Tight, Boosting Prices By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. existing home sales surged on pent-up demand in June after three straight declines, with the current month’s data reflecting contract signings after states began to reopen. National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun […]

STATUS CHECK: TRUMP: ‘WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER;’ GA VIRUS SHOWDOWN DELAYED

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s updated status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: With the VIX down 1.6% to maintain moderately elevated 24.84, U.S. stocks had a mixed session Tuesday with a much different composition than Monday’s Nasdaq blowout. In fact the Nasdaq ended in […]

STATUS CHECK: NASDAQ WOWS; TRUMP REPEATS; SHELTON UP

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s updated status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: With the VIX down 4.13% to a calmer 24.60, the Nasdaq set another record in a big way, gaining 2.51% or 263.90 on the back of Tesla (+9.47% to record high), Peloton […]

BOE’S HALDANE: MPC MULLING SUB-ZERO RATES DESPITE STRONG ECONOMIC RECOVERY

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The Bank of England is continuing to assess the efficacy of negative interest rates, despite a stronger-than-expected economy recovery, the bank’s chief economist said Monday. Sub-zero interest rates are “actively under review,” said Andy Haldane, addressing the UK’s Treasury Select Committee.  The bank could also consider expanding its quantitative […]

DATA PREVIEW: US HOME SALES CENTER STAGE IN QUIET DATA WEEK

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – In the lighter data week ahead, the focus will be on new and existing homes sales for June, reflecting the extremely low level of mortgage rates offset by continued uncertainty due to the resurgence of COVID cases and the elevated unemployment rate. In May, existing home sales plunged by […]

DATA FLASH: JUNE HOUSING STARTS JUMP, BUT FUTURE UNCERTAIN

By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The U.S. June home building data, released Friday, were overwhelmingly positive, as low mortgage rates and continued state reopenings boosted confidence. However, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in several states in early-July, ongoing uncertainty, and extremely high unemployment may keep home building contained for the next few months. The […]

ECB LEAVES POLICY UNCHANGED; SEES ‘PARTIAL RECOVERY’ IN MAY AND JUNE

— Lagarde Passes Baton to European Leaders Ahead of EU Relief Package Negotiations due on Friday By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The Eurozone economy bottomed out in April, the European Central Bank said Thursday, after leaving policy unchanged at its latest rate-setting meeting, while urging European governments to quickly agree a new fiscal package […]