St Louis Fed President James Bullard on Tuesday said that he thinks it an open question whether the Fed will have to become more restrictive (i.e. raise rates above the “neutral” 2.0%-2.5% zone). Additional Quotes:“We will be able to assess our position in a few months’ time.”“I think it’s premature …
Read More »Fed’s Bostic: Higher Inflation Poses Real Risk
Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said on Tuesday that there is a “real danger” of inflation expectations drifting from the Fed’s 2.0% target to 4% or higher. If current levels of Fed support are left in place, he added, it could fuel more inflation and thus warrant action “soon” to …
Read More »More Insight On Tuesday’s ISM Data
US manufacturing sector slowed in January; but employment surged. A measure of US manufacturing activity fell to a 14-month low in January amid an outbreak of COVID-19 infections, supporting views that economic growth lost steam at the start of the year.The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said on Tuesday that …
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 »Gold Touches Fresh High As USD Flattened
At $1,799, the Gold Index (XAU/USD) is firm in the New York session, trading 0.37% higher on Monday. Equity markets started the week supported by greater clarity on the Federal Reserve’s policy normalization path and buoyed by central banks’ focus on securing a sustainable business cycle.Emergency monetary policy accommodation will …
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 »Will BoE hike rates on Thursday?
The Bank of England will announce its decision on monetary policy this week. Market consensus points to a rate hike of 25bp to 0.50%. Analysts at Danske Bank see the BoE raising rates three times in 2022 (February, May and November) and consider that expectations of five hikes as being …
Read More »Weekly Recap 24-28 January
US Data released on Friday showed the Employment Cost Index (ECI) rose 1% during the fourth quarter, and 4% during the year. Analysts at Wells Fargo point out the quarterly increase was more restrained than Q3’s 1.3% gain, and they consider that may tamp down fears of a wage-price spiral …
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 »