The U.S. dollar strengthened versus major rivals Wednesday after the Federal Reserve, as expected, moved to accelerate the wind-down of its monthly bond purchases, putting them on track to finish by March. The Fed’s move is also seen clearing the way for rate increases, with policy makers penciling in three …
Read More »Powell: Fed can’t wait too long for maximum employment
The Federal Reserve Bank Chair Jerome Powell said in his post-Fed meeting press conference that with inflation so far above the Fed’s 2.0% target, we can’t wait too long to get back to maximum employment. Key Remarks: “Inflation that we’ve got is not at all what we were looking for …
Read More »Fed’s Meeting Sends Major Signals To Financial Markets
The Federal Reserve sent to the financial markets multiple indications on Wednesday immediately after concluding the two-day policymaking meeting. The US Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday that the FOMC had agreed to leave the Federal Funds target range unchanged at 0.0-0.25%, in line with expectations. Moreover, the pace of the …
Read More »3 Rate Hikes For 2022; Stock Market Rises
The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it will halt crisis-driven asset purchases early next year, setting the stage for three interest-rate hikes in 2022 to help counter the threat of persistently high inflation. The stock market, which was lower as investors braced for Fed meeting news, improved, with the Dow …
Read More »Fed Paves The Way For Earlier Faster Interest Rate Hikes
In an effort to contain price increases that hit a 39-year high last month, the Fed on Wednesday agreed to clear the way for earlier and faster interest rate hikes in 2022 by accelerating the phase-out of its bond-buying stimulus.The Fed’s policymaking committee left its benchmark rate near zero but …
Read More »All Except Tech Shares Awaiting Powell’s Statements
Tech shares investors are not waiting around for Powell to tell what economist and traders already know: The Fed is about to get very serious about inflation. The remainder of the market is waiting and holding their breath.The Dow Jones Index is flat. The S&P 500 is down just 0.2%. …
Read More »BOC’s Expects Greater Use of Guidance, QE to Reach Inflation Target
Given the low level of global rates, Bank of Canada Gov. Tiff Macklem said the central bank may need to make more use of forward guidance and large-scale asset purchases in response to future economic shocks to ensure inflation reaches its 2% target.In a speech Wednesday, Macklem provided more insight …
Read More »Treasury Yields Inch Up Ahead of Fed Statement
Investors are digesting data on retail sales and look for update on plan to wind down bond-buying program. Sales at US retail stores, online sellers and restaurants rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in November from the previous month, the Commerce Department reported. US government bond yields edged higher Wednesday, …
Read More »Canada’s Inflation Pressures Continues To Widen
The annual inflation rate in Canada remains at 4.7% in November. Analysts point out that inflation pressure continues to broaden; that combined with a stronger labour market will prompt a rate hike from the Bank of Canada during the second quarter of next year. Canada’s headline inflation rate was unchanged …
Read More »Weaker Demand Signals Pull WTI Crude Lower
New York Mercantile Exchange oil futures and the nearest delivered Brent contract on the Intercontinental Exchange extended losses into a third successive session Wednesday, with investors keeping risk appetite in check following the outlook for lower demand growth next year hit by the rapidly spreading omicron variant. Market attention has …
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