US ISM Manufacturing Sector Buoyed by Cautious Optimism, in Growth Territory for 9th Straight Month in September, but US Trade War, Mideast Conflict Keeping Costs High, Deliveries Slow
–ISM’s Spence: Firms Jittery about Not Being Able to Rely on Stead Economic Policy By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the ninth straight month in September, thanks to a cautiously optimistic business outlook, but Washington’s wars on the trade front and in the Middle East are keeping various costs high and […]
US ISM Manufacturing Posts 8th Straight Growth in August but at Slower Pace as Persistent Inflation, Trade War Hurt New Orders, Jobs; AI Projects Keep Chip Supply Tight
–ISM’s Spence Sees Positive Sentiment in Employment Start to Deteriorate in August–Spence: Prolonged Trade Uncertainty Can Delay Orders, Increase Price Pressures By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the eighth straight month in August but slowed more than expected as persistent inflation during the Iran war and additional punitive import duties slapped […]
FOMC Holds Rates Steady; Drops Easing Bias By Ending Forward Guidance
— SEP Shows Fed Officials See Funds Rate Rising To 3.8% By End ‘26; Back to 3.6% end ’27 – -SEP Inflation Forecast Lifted for 2026 From 2.7% to 3.6% — Warsh Didn’t Submit Funds Rate Dot; Half Want Rate Same or Lower; Half Want Rate Hike – -Warsh Committed To 2% Inflation; ‘Compatible’ With […]
Fed Officials Not Ready To Move Rates Either Way as Iran Uncertainty Continues
— Rate Hike Sentiment Rising, But Most Inclined to Be Patient — Easing Bias Seems Increasingly Likely To Go By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials leaned half heartedly toward a potential tightening of monetary policy this week, as they struggled to keep up with the vicissitudes of the Iran conflict and its […]
US ISM Services Sector Activity Picks Up in May but Faces Mideast Conflict Impact of Higher Costs of Fuels, Other Oil Products; Employment Remains Weak
–ISM’s Miller: Fed Likely to Hold Interest Rates Steady in Near Term as Inflation Mainly Due to Fuel Prices, Exerting Some Downward Pressure on Growth By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. services sector activity accelerated in May after slowing in the previous two months thanks to higher new orders, but the sector continues to face […]
Fed Officials Remain Wary of Changing Funds Rate, But Inflation Concerns Paramount
— Balance Sheet Policy Due To Come Into Focus As Warsh Takes Charge By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the Jerome Powell era gives way to the Kevin Warsh regime at the Federal Reserve, Fed officials continue to warily contemplate whether the U.S. central bank’s short-term interest rate settings need to be adjusted. For […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Global Investors Sharply Reduce Cash, Dive into Equities
–Long Global Semiconductors Seen as Most Crowded Trade By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global fund managers sharply reduced cash and dove into equities in May, according to the latest BofA Global Fund Managers survey, released Tuesday. The move was driven by “EPS optimism and a forecast of Fed rate cuts,” the survey said. […]
Inflation Making Fed Officials Increasingly Prone To Keep Funds Rate As Is, If Not Higher
– Schmid: Inflation ‘Most Pressing Risk To The Economy’ – Hammack: FOMC Must Make ‘Tough Tradeoffs” to Guarantee Low Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With the war against Iran worsening price pressures in the United States, Federal Reserve officials are not only leaning toward keeping monetary policy on hold indefinitely, they seem increasingly […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Global Investors Pare Risk Assets on Sharp Reassessment of Growth and Inflation Expectations
–Geopolitical Conflict Still Top Tail Risk By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global fund managers pared risk holdings in April, with the move driven by a sharp reassessment of growth and inflation expectations, according to the latest BofA Global Fund Managers survey, released Tuesday. This month, a net 36% of those polled looked for […]
Fed’s Jefferson: FOMC ‘Well-Positioned’ To Face Upside Inflation, Downside Job Risks
–– Williams: FOMC Is Now ‘Really Well-Positioned’ To ‘Wait and See’ — Goolsbee: Fed in ‘Very Uncomfortable Situation; Facing Danger of ‘Stagflation’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Phillip Jefferson said Tuesday evening that monetary policy is “well-positioned” in a war-influenced environment of both upside risks to inflation and downside risks […]