ECB’S LANE: BASELINE FORECASTS BASED ON WIDESPREAD COVID JAB BY END-2021

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The most recent ECB economic forecasts assume that a vaccine to combat Covid-19 virus could be available by the end of next year, according to the central bank’s chief economist, Philip Lane Friday.  The “baseline” estimates assume that “maybe a vaccine will be found by the middle of next […]

STATUS CHECK: ‘I WANT TO SHOW STRENGTH AS A LEADER’

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: Another MAGA rally, this one in Freeland, Mich. Thursday night, well attended. Familiar themes, cheers of “Four more years,” and very few masks. September 15’s “Burn Your Mask” day is still on.  Earlier […]

PRESIDENT TRUMP: ‘I WANT TO SHOW STRENGTH AS A LEADER’

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is a key excerpt from President Donald Trump’s White House news conference Thursday afternoon:      All right, please, Jon.      Q    Yes, thank you, Mr. President.  Why did you lie to the American people?  And why should we trust what you have to say now?      THE PRESIDENT:  Such a terrible question […]

BOC’S MACKLEM Q&A: AS BANK ASSESSES ASSET PURCHASES, ‘COULD BE MORE, COULD BE LESS’

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem Thursday said the bank’s “recalibration” of its asset purchases means it will consider adjusting the scale of its buying, and the maturities of its debt purchases. Macklem, speaking at a press conference, was asked to explain the bank’s recent statements that it will “recalibrate” its large-scale asset […]

ECB ‘MONITORING’ EURO STRENGTH; UPGRADES 2020 GDP FORECAST

— Rate on Hold After Latest Governing Council Meeting By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank discussed the recent appreciation of the single currency at its latest governing council meeting, but declined to specify the risks of sustained euro strength to the nascent economic recovery. The governing council made a rare passing […]

DATA FLASH: US AUGUST PPI UP 0.3%; FOOD AND ENERGY DOWN

–Prices Ex. Food and Energy Rose 0.4%; Up 0.3% Excluding Trade Services as Well–Energy Prices Fall 0.1% After Two Gains; Gasoline Prices Down 1.4%–Food Prices Down 0.4%, Continuing Downward Trend–Initial Jobless Claims Unchanged at 884,000 in the August 5 Week By Kevin Kastner WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. business prices rose by 0.3% in August, as […]

TEXT: ECB POLICY STATEMENT

FRANKFURT (MaceNews) – The following is the text of Thursday’s European Central Bank policy statement: At today’s meeting the Governing Council of the ECB took the following monetary policy decisions: (1) The interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged […]

STATUS CHECK: “I SAID, ‘DON’T PANIC'”

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: You’ve heard the recordings, read the excerpts. What’s more to say? So skipping ahead, of course once The Washington Post’s Web site unveiled the excerpts of Bob Woodward’s latest book “Rage,” complete with […]

TEXT: BANK OF CANADA LEAVES KEY RATE UNCHANGED

NEW YORK (MaceNews) – The following is the text of Wednesday’s Bank of Canada rate policy decision: The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of ¼ percent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly ½ percent and the deposit rate is ¼ percent. The Bank is also continuing its quantitative […]

STATUS CHECK: PANDEMIC LIFE RESUMES AFTER HOLIDAY

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: ·        Tuesday and life resumes such as it is, with the Labor Day holiday weekend a memory, a brief respite from what has become a cautious existence behind masks, closed doors, filling the […]