US stocks ended sharply lower on Wednesday after the FOMC minutes showed the Fed will likely raise rates sooner than earlier anticipated and could reduce its balance sheet shortly after it raises rates. The Dow Jones sank 393 points or 1.1% to 36407, after closing at a record level the …
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 …
Read More »How Have Assets, Markets Reacted To FOMC Minutes?
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 …
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