FOMC MINUTES: ROBUST DISCUSSION AND WEAK CONSENSUS

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The weak consensus for another rate cut at the most recent FOMC meeting did not appear to be reinforced by any large enthusiasm for more accommodation to come although participants were willing to keep an open mind about future data, according to the minutes of the meeting published Wednesday. The uncertainty seen […]

WHITE HOUSE WATCH: BAD VIBES SURROUND RUNUP TO CHINA TRADE TALKS

By Denny Gulino THE WHITE HOUSE (MaceNews) – The BLS Limo Group black vans are back at the Willard Hotel, this time carrying bureaucrats from China and as they mill about at 14th & F streets, a block from the Treasury and two blocks from the White House, they seem relaxed. They are a low-security […]

CHICAGO FED’S EVANS: ‘WOULDN’T MIND’ ANOTHER RATE CUT

By Suzanne Cosgrove CHICAGO (MaceNews) – Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans told reporters Tuesday that he “wouldn’t mind” another 25 basis point interest rate cut at the next FOMC meeting, depending on what the data suggests ahead of the meeting. Speaking to reporters following a luncheon address to the Rotary Club at the Union […]

UPDATED WHITE HOUSE WATCH: ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SURPRISE POLICY SHIFT

By Denny Gulino THE WHITE HOUSE (MaceNews) – It was a sort of typical Monday in the Executive Mansion, a few tweets, a surprise pullout of U.S. troops from Syria, an impromptu news conference after the signing of a $55 billion trade deal and an accompanying “digital” commerce agreement with Japan and on many levels, […]

US JOBS RPT SHOWS WAGE GROWTH SLOWS EVEN AS UNEMP RATE IMPROVES

By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The September jobs report Friday, with 136,000 payroll slots added, was modestly positive for hiring and the 50-year-low unemployment rate of 3.5% was everything a labor market economist could hope for, yet there was a shadow cast overall, a slowing of wage growth that suggested prosperity is ebbing. Manufacturing […]

WHITE HOUSE WATCH: OCTOBER BECOMES MORE CROWDED WITH TARIFFS

By Denny Gulino THE WHITE HOUSE (MaceNews) – One of the many targets of the president other than the “stone-cold crooked” Bidens – who he Thursday called on China to investigate, apparently in case Ukraine isn’t up to the job – is doing the White House a favor. First, though, as he left for a […]

WHITE HOUSE WATCH: WALLS OF WORRY AND SEEDS OF POLITICAL CRISIS

By Denny Gulino THE WHITE HOUSE (MaceNews) – When the Dow industrials can close down Wednesday almost 500 points and that only erases a month’s worth of gains, how bad can that be? And to continue the Panglossian view of the day’s markets and tangled political recriminations, what’s not to like about those walls of […]

WHITE HOUSE WATCH: OF ISM, FALLING MICE AND THE NEW DONGFENGS

By Denny Gulino THE WHITE HOUSE (MaceNews) – Here at the center of the action Tuesday, about 150 feet from the Oval Office , there is …. no action. When you watch the evening news, it will seem that a lot is going on. But take it from one of the “pool” reporters who rotated […]

CANADA GDP FLAT IN JULY, WITH GOODS-PRODUCING SECTOR WEAKENING

By Gordon Isfeld OTTAWA (MaceNews) – The Canadian economy stalled in July after a four-month growth spurt, as major sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and oil and gas showed signs of weakening. “Following four months of growth, real gross domestic product was essentially unchanged in July as a decline in goods-producing industries was offset by […]

FED’S EVANS SEES CURRENT RATES AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS, BUT LEAVES EASING DOOR OPEN

By Laurie Laird FRANKFURT (MaceNews) – U.S. interest rates currently reflect the “fundamental” resilience of the economy, according to an influential Federal Reserve policy maker, in line with the latest outlook provided by the central bank, suggesting a holding pattern for monetary policy. “The setting of the funds rate at the moment is appropriate for […]