The US dollar edged lower for most of Wednesday, but eventually received an unexpected boost from the US Federal Reserve’s Meeting Minutes. Fed policymakers noted that “In light of elevated inflation pressures and the strengthening labor market, participants judged that the increase in policy accommodation provided by the ongoing pace …
Read More »Hawkish FOMC Minutes Sharply Drag Gold Lower
`Gold falls on hawkish FOMC minutes which sent both the US dollar and yields higher. FOMC minutes point to a faster increase of the federal funds rate.Gold has fallen sharply on the back of the Federal Open Market Committee minutes that stated, ”in light of elevated inflation pressures & strengthening …
Read More »FOMC Minutes: Conditions For Rate Hike Could Be Met Soon
The minutes of the 14-15 December FOMC meeting, released on Wednesday, said most participants judged conditions for rate hike could be met soon. According to FOMC Minutes, recent high levels of inflation will raise the public’s longer-term inflation expectations to levels higher than those consistent with the committee’s longer-run inflation …
Read More »Biden Could Announce Fed Nominees This Week
US President Joe Biden could announce remaining Federal Reserve Board of Governor Nominees as soon as this week.Michigan State University economist Lisa Cook, former Fed research economist Philip Jefferson, and former Fed Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin are the leading candidates as the Biden administration seeks to diversify the Board of …
Read More »Ahead FOMC Minutes, T-Yield Curve Steepens
A sign of optimism prevails across financial markets that virus infections surge will not lead to big economic hindrance. After a wave of selloff, long-term treasury yields are nearing breaching 2021 highs. The bond market has wasted little time pushing Treasury yields sharply higher in the early days of 2022, …
Read More »OPEC+ Latest Decision Reflects Easing Surplus Concerns
The latest decision by OPEC+ Tuesday to stick to its planned increase in oil output for February largely reflects easing concern of a big surplus in the first quarter of 2022, as well as a wish to provide consistent guidance to the market.The producer group, which comprises of the Organization …
Read More »Weekly Recap 27-31 December
US Vice President Kamala Harris defended the Build Back Better (BBB) stimulus plan during an interview on CBS’ “Face The Nation” TV show. Harris stressed inflation and coronavirus as major concerns and top priorities in 2022. “The United States must address the rising cost of consumer goods”, she added.Risk sentiment …
Read More »US Shares Higher On End Of Year Trading
The S&P 500 is flat in subdued trade on the final session of 2021, having slipped back under 4800 on Thursday. The index is on course to post an annual return of more than 27%.All the major US indices were powered higher in 2021 by massive fiscal and monetary stimulus …
Read More »Key Global Drivers Will Continue Pushing Commodities In 2022
A quick look at central bank and government policies in the wake of the pandemic will easily help conclude that there is a highly bullish trend for commodity prices. In early 2020, when the pandemic caused selling in markets across all asset classes, there was a warning that quantitative easing, …
Read More »Fed: Biden Considers Former Fed Governor Raskin For Vice Chair Of Supervision Role
US President Joe Biden is considering the nomination of former Fed board of governors member and former Treasury Department official Sarah Bloom Raskin for the role of vice chair for supervision of the banking system.For the other two board of governor seats that will some become available, Biden is reportedly …
Read More »