ECB Raises Key Rates by 50 Basis Points, Deviating from Forward Guidance

–Approval of Anti-Fragmentation Tool Allowed Front-Loaded Tightening, Says President Christine Lagarde –Lagarde does not provide forward guidance, says ECB data-dependent By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank raised interest rates by a much-higher than expected 50 basis points following its governing council meeting on Thursday, deviating from the carefully-worded forward guidance issued […]

Japan May CPI Annual Rate Remains Above 2% on Fuels, Food, Appliances      

By Max Sato –Core CPI +2.1% Y/Y for May, April Largest in Over 13 Years If 2014 Sales Tax Hike Impact Excluded–Total CPI +2.4% Y/Y for May, April Largest in Over 30 Years Excluding Impact of 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes–Pace of Energy Price Rise Slower; Household Durable Goods Prices on Uptrend (MaceNews) – Consumer […]

<strong>Powell: Rates Must Rise To “Restrictive” Levels to Curb Demand, Inflation</strong>

– Still Hopes For ‘Soft Landing’ but Achieving It ‘More Challenging’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that he and his fellow monetary policy-makers must continue to raise short-term interest rates into “restrictive” territory to validate financial market expectations and successfully fight inflation. Powell, testifying on the Fed’s […]

Italy Backs ‘Gradual, Flexible’ Monetary Policy Normalization, Urges ECB to Avoid ‘Hawkish’ Message – Italian Government Sources

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy is warning against a sudden unwinding of Eurozone monetary policy accommodation and calling for a ‘gradual’ but ‘flexible’ normalization process, according to ruling coalition sources. “It is a very delicate moment for the European Central Bank, and it is paramount to avoid having to exit and then re-enter […]