ECB EXPANDS EMERGENCY QE, LENDING PROGRAMMES; LEAVES RATES ON HOLD
–Inflation Forecast Reduced for 2020; HICP Not Expected to Reach Target Before 2024 By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank Thursday expanded its emergency asset purchase and lending programmes at its latest policy meeting but left its key rates unchanged, raising questions about whether European borrowing costs have reached its so-called “reversal […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: WHEN LUNACY BECOMES CHRONIC
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. A day of settled routine, now that conspiracy theories, a raging president and edge-of-your seat apprehension about what comes next has become routine. Pres-Elect Joe Biden tried to keep to a reassuring regimen […]
GERMANY SEES REBOUND IN ECONOMIC SENTIMENT IN DECEMBER ON COVID-19 – ZEW
By Marco Babic ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in Germany bounced back in December from a decline the previous month, as pending approvals for a COVID-19 vaccine pushed expectations higher, the Mannheim based ZEW institute reported Tuesday. The Index of Economic Sentiment for Germany rose 16.0 points to 55.0 in December, well above the median […]
JAPAN OCT HOUSEHOLD SPENDING POSTS 1ST Y/Y RISE IN 13 MONTHS IN REACTION TO TAX HIKE SLUMP
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending in October marked the first year-on-year increase in 13 months as the base-year effects of the October 2019 sales tax hike faded, while a third wave of coronavirus infections around the world is likely to continue restricting some expenditures, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal […]
NABE SURVEY FINDS MIXED SIGNALS ON VIRUS EFFECT BUT A BETTER 2021
–For 2021 ‘A Dramatic Improvement From the October Survey’ WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Members of the National Association for Business Economics Monday were of at least two minds about several pandemic related metrics, on the one hand taking a somewhat optimistic view that despite the virus surge, growth would only moderate, not tank in the near […]
STATUS CHECK: RUMOR CHECK – 2020 WILL END AT SOME POINT
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Friday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. Wait, this just in. The Brexit talks have fallen apart. You don’t look surprised. Or even interested. Someday a headline will flash. Brexit Talks Fall Together. Time is running out, after all. The […]
DATA PREVIEW: INFLATION MEASURES NOT EXPECTED TO RING ANY ALARM BELLS
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The coming week’s economic data measures updated consumer and business inflation readings in a context of higher interest rates and a slower rebuilding of the jobs market. Outside of the standard data, Congress faces a midnight Friday deadline to avoid another government shutdown which, if it happens, could delay the following week’s […]
NOTED BOE DOVE ADOPTS MORE CAUTIOUS TONE ON NEGATIVE RATES
By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – One of the more dovish Bank of England rate setters has adopted more cautious view toward sub-zero interest rates in the UK, stressing that the development of a Covid vaccine could herald a more-rapid-than-expected return to normal financing conditions. Silvana Tenreyro, an external member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy […]
BOE OFFICIAL: FURTHER UK QE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH RATE CUT
—MPC External Member Saunders Also Sees Merit in Sub-Base Rate lLnding to Corporates By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – Any expansion of quantitative easing will pack a greater punch if coupled with a rate cut, according to a key Bank of England official, who believes that borrowing rates in the UK have yet to reach […]
STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: IS PANDEMIC RELIEF CLOSER? REALLY?
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. It would be the biggest accomplishment of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, to be the catalyst for the passage of a pandemic relief package. The approximately half a hundred Republicans and Democrats who […]