Wht Hse Transcript: Background Briefing on Biden Omicron Address

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the White House transcript of Monday night’s background teleconference previewing President Biden’s address Tuesday afternoon (2:30p ET) on the Omicron variant and prospective measures – too late to meet the challenges of holiday gatherings – being taken to mitigate its impact: Background Press Call Previewing the President’s Speech on […]

Japan Govt Upgrades View: Economy Pickup Firmer As Covid Rules Ease

–Upward Revision 1st in 17 Months Since July 2020, when Covid Cases Ebbed–Govt Sees Consumption, Business Sentiment Firmer But Capex Pickup Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday upgraded its economic overview for the first time in 17 months in light of a steady improvement in consumer spending after the government eased its […]

Fed’s Waller Urges March Funds Rate Liftoff, Followed by Balance Sheet Shrinking

By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller Friday said the Fed should start raising short-term interest rates “shortly” after it finishes buying bonds in March – perhaps immediately thereafter. What’s more, Waller advocated starting to shrink the Fed’s bloated balance sheet soon after it starts raising the federal funds rate, which […]

Analysis: Fed Ponders What Puts Out This Peculiar Inflation Fire

–Overheating or Super Squeezing? By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell Wednesday reassured his press conference viewers the central bank has the tools it needs to make sure aggressive inflation doesn’t last too long, reinforcing the narrative this inflation episode will meet its match. But what if the seeds of deflation […]

Japan Nov Exports Pick Up Pace on Eased Supply Delays, Reopening Demand

— Imports Surge on Rising Energy Costs, Leading to 4th Straight Trade Deficit By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The pace of year-on-year increase in Japanese exports picked up in November after slowing in October amid a recent improvement in parts supply from Southeast Asia but global transport bottlenecks and the spread of the Omicron coronavirus […]

FOMC Doubles Taper to End Bond Buying in March as Inflation Forces Hawkish Tilt

—Three 2022 Rate Hikes Now Projected By FOMC Participants –Powell Hints At Quick Start To Funds Rate Liftoff After Taper Ends By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve policymakers moved dramatically, though not unexpectedly, Wednesday to adopt a more aggressive stance against inflation. The FOMC said it anticipates “similar reductions” in subsequent months, although […]

TEXT: FOMC Statement: Doubles Pace of Taper

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday met expectations for a doubling of the pace of tapering and participants increased their calls for three rate hikes next year. The text of the policy statement follows: The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in […]

Bank of England Likely to Hold Fire at Dec MPC Meeting

–Omicron Variant Set to Delay Rate Hike Widely Expected Before Year End–Sharp Rise in November Inflation Could Provide Spirited Discussion LONDON (MaceNews) – The Bank of England is likely to keep rates on hold at Wednesday’s final rate-setting meeting of the year, with the U.K. returning to partial Covid restrictions as the Omicrom variant sweeps […]

ECB Set to Clarify Future of PEPP; Upgrade Inflation Forecasts

— But Details of Post-PEPP Stimulus Unlikely to Come From Dec Meeting LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank is likely to provide greater detail on the winding up of its emergency asset purchase programme following its policy meeting this week, but is unlikely to say much about further quantitative easing. “This is more of […]

BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey:  Global Investors Increase Cash Holdings In December In Anticipation of World Central Bank Tightening in 2022

–On Average, Investors Expect Fed Taper to End by April 2022 By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors increased their cash holdings in December, wary of putting new monies to work ahead of expected world central bank tightening in 2022, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released […]