Despite the uncertainty about the new coronavirus variant, the US economy ended 2021 on a high with rising consumer spending and falling unemployment. According to the US Economic scene published by the Conference Board in December, the Omicron variant does not seem to have dampened spirits for the coming year …
Read More »Consumer Demand for Goods Drove US Import Surge During Holidays
US trade deficit in goods hit a fresh record in November due to strong demand and an easing of supply-chain issues.California’s Port of Los Angeles is struggling to keep up with the influx of cargo containers arriving at its terminals, creating one of the biggest obstruction points in the global …
Read More »Fed’s Daly: We will need to raise interest rates to keep economy in balance
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President and FOMC member Mary Daly said on Thursday that policymakers will need to raise interest rates to keep the economy in balance. “Even if we do a couple of interest rate increases, monetary policy will still be accommodative”, she added. Additional Remarks:“Inflation is …
Read More »WTI Briefly Eclipses $80.00 level to Multi-Week Highs
The WTI crude oil briefly eclipsed the $80 per barrel level for the first time since mid-November as OPEC+ struggles to lift output.Crude oil prices have rallied despite recent downside in global equities after hawkish Fed minutes, and are keeping an eye on Kazakhstan unrest.Front-month WTI futures have surged on …
Read More »BOE: Output Price Inflation Seen at 4.5% to December 2022
Businesses in the UK see year-ahead output price inflation at 4.5% in the three months to December, up from 4.2% in November, the Bank of England’s (BOE) Decision Maker Panel (DMP) survey revealed on Thursday. “Annual output price inflation continued to increase in the DMP, reaching 5% on average in …
Read More »Gold Falls After Bond Yields Rise
Gold prices fell Thursday, January 6, as US Treasury yields rose, after the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s December meeting indicated the fastest rate hike in interest rates to curb inflation. Yields on benchmark 10-year US Treasury bonds rose to the highest level since April 2021, raising the opportunity cost …
Read More »Market Drivers – US Session – 5 January
The US dollar edged lower for most of Wednesday but got an unexpected push by the US Federal Reserve’s Meeting Minutes. US policymakers use the kind of language confirming a looming interest rate hike and that the quantitative easing, stimulus asset and asset purchases are no longer necessary.The minutes document …
Read More »UK Inflation Concerns Hit The Highest On Record For Businesses
“More UK businesses than ever before are worried about inflation, and a record number are planning to increase their own prices,” said Bloomberg while conveying the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) details on early Thursday morning in Asia.The news also quotes Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the BCC …
Read More »BoJ Poised to raise CPI Projection For 2022
“The Bank of Japan’s government debt holdings have fallen for the first time in 13 years as the central bank quietly adjusts its massive bond-buying program in the face of looming financial risk,” said Nikkei while conveying details of the Bank of Japan’s stealth tapering during early Thursday morning in …
Read More »Wheels Now Put In Motion By Fed for US Balance Sheet Reduction
Minutes from the Fed’s December meeting indicated that policymakers are ready to aggressively dial back policy stimulus.One key aspect, the US central bank’s balance sheet, was the subject of prolonged discussions, with policymakers pointing to a reduction in bond purchases during the coming months. Fed Members expressed concern about inflation …
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