Gold was up 0.6% to $1,797.5, silver was up 0.5% to $22.41 an ounce, and copper was up 0.4% to $4.33 per pound. Among energy ETFs, the United States Oil Fund was up 0.6% to $62.35, and the United States Natural Gas Fund was up 5.4% to $17.16.US equities advanced …
Read More »Inflation, Deficits Cannot Dim Appeal of US Treasury Bonds
US Treasury rates remain strikingly low, partly because of the safety government debt offers corporations and retirees. Markets have been in disturbance. The Federal Reserve is taking steps to cool off the economy, as questions loom about the course of the recovery. And news headlines are announcing that government bond …
Read More »Fed’s Barkin: Rate Hikes Pace Depends On Inflation
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin said, Monday, that he would like the Fed to get better positioned. “How fast we go depends on how the economy develops, he added, saying also that the pace of rate hikes will depend on the pace of inflation. I’d like us …
Read More »Fed’s Bostic Expects Three Rate Hikes In 2022
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic on Monday said that he expects three rate hikes in 2022, in a reiteration of remarks made over the weekend. He clarified that a 50bps move in March was not the Fed’s preferred policy action and that the Fed is not fixed …
Read More »Fed’s George: Aggressive balance sheet reduction may allow shallower rate path
Kansas City Fed President Esther George said on Monday that the Federal Reserve can move sooner to start reducing its bond holdings than in the past and aggressive action to shrink the US central bank’s portfolio.“What we do on the balance sheet will likely affect the path of policy rates …
Read More »Daly: Fed’s QT Could Still Support US Economy
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly on Monday noted that if the Federal Funds rate was to reach 1.25% by the end of the year, that would be quite a bit of tightening but still supportive of the economy. Seemingly, Daly is talking about the possibility of …
Read More »SNB Chair Jordan: We have to take inflation developments seriously
Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan told Swiss broadcaster SRF on Monday that we have to take inflation developments seriously, and that while some of this inflation is certainly temporary, all central banks have to be careful it doesn’t become permanent. Jordan reiterated that inflation is expected to come down …
Read More »NZD/USD Rebounds Amid Improved Risk Appetite
The NZD/USD pair is enjoying a modest rebound from the 14-month lows it struck last Friday amid improved risk appetite. Traders will have plenty of US data, Fed speakers’ statements and remarks, in addition to Q4 NZ jobs data to monitor this week.A more risk-on mood in global equity and …
Read More »S&P 500 Surges Back, Ends Week In The Green Territory
The US equities surged in late trade after a broadly positive session as Fed bets eased after softer wage data. The S&P 500 leapt to close above the 4400 level again to close 2.4% higher and end the week positive. Apple led the charge after positive Q4 earnings and record …
Read More »US Personal Income Rises Less Than Expected, Personal Spending Retreats
A report released by the Commerce Department on Friday showed personal income in the US increased by less than expected in the month of December.The Commerce Department said personal income rose by 0.3 percent in December after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.5 percent in November.Economists had expected personal income …
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