Italy’s ESM Reform Approval Likely To Raise Tensions Between Ruling Parties, Government Buys Time – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s parliament has yet to approve the key European Stability Mechanism reform aimed at strengthening the banking union and is buying time over fears this will trigger tensions among ruling allies, according to government sources. The League party and the 5 Stars Movement, that have joined forces to support […]
Japan Government Keeps Economic Pickup View After December Upgrade
— Consumers Brave Omicron Scare in Year-End, New Year Leisure Season — Production Improving on Easing Supply Constraints By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday maintained its economic overview after upgrading it last month for the first time in 17 months, saying consumer spending is picking up — despite rising Covid cases — and […]
NY Fed’s Williams: ‘Makes Sense’ To Begin To Remove Accommodation
‘Dramatic’ Job Gains, High Inflation Means ‘Approaching’ Liftoff Doesn’t Expect Steep Rate Hikes; Rejects ‘Extreme Scenarios’ Funds Rate Should Go ‘Somewhere Above 2% Down The Road’ Unclear How Long After Liftoff Balance Sheet Shrinkage Will Start Not As Long As Last Time By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – New York Federal Reserve Bank President John […]
Highlights of Fed’s Brainard Q&A: Emphasizes Fed’s Anti-Inflation Efforts
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are highlights of Thursday’s testimony of Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard as noted by Mace News’ Steven K. Beckner: Fed Governor Lael Brainard was quite assertive about fighting inflation in testimony before a Senate Banking Committee hearing on her confirmation to succeed Richard Clarida as Fed Vice Chairman. First, she […]
FED BEIGE BK SEES MODEST EXPANSION, HIGHER PRICES, SOME COOLING OF EXPECTATIONS, SOME SUPPLY CHAIN STABILIZATION
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The latest Beige Book survey of economic conditions coast-to-coast saw a “modest” pace of expansion as 2021 ended, with some cooling of the generally optimistic expectations for the new year and some scattered improvement in transportation bottlenecks, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday. The survey, assembled by the Kansas City Fed through January […]
Fed’s Powell Reassures on Balance Sheet Runoff, Rate Hikes, Ultimate Control of Inflation – With Reservations
–Labor Supply Can Become an Issue Going Forward for Inflation–Whether There are Three Rate Hikes This Year Depends on Data By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Without getting too specific, Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell Tuesday pledged to quickly leave behind the era of emergency measures, fighting inflation while aware its current causes are largely […]
<strong>Powell Vows to Keep ‘Elevated’ Inflation From Getting ‘Entrenched;’ Doesn’t Say How</strong>
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pledges the Fed will act to prevent already “elevated” inflation from becoming further “entrenched” in congressional testimony prepared for delivery Tuesday morning. However, the Fed chief does not elaborate on how precisely he and his fellow policymakers will proceed to combat wage-price pressures in […]
Eurozone Consumer Prices Rose More Than Expected in December
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in the Eurozone rose more than economists expected in December as energy prices continue to be the main inflation driver, according to the latest preliminary figures from Eurostat. Prices as measured by HICP were 5.0 percent higher in December of 2021 than they were a year ago, rising from a […]
FOMC Minutes Reflect Surprising Amount of Discussion Re More Aggressive Tightening – But No Conclusions
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The latest minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee released Wednesday afternoon surprised the markets with the amount of discussion about potentially more aggressive than expected tightening moves, despite the lack of any conclusions. Not only did “many participants” judge that the appropriate pace of balance sheet runoff would likely be faster […]
President Biden’s Thumbs Down Moment Fails to Dampen His Optimism
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – After months of back and forth negotiations, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has seemingly sealed the fate of President Biden’s signature agenda item, Build Back Better. The Democratic senator announced—on Fox News—that he will not support the nearly $2 trillion spending package. “I cannot vote to continue with this […]