Tightening has become a noteable key word across financial markets, as US government bond yields extended recent gains on Wednesday, with growing evidence that the Fed is planning to rapidly raise interest rates and reduce its bond-holdings lifting the 10-year Treasury yield above 2.6%.Yields, which rise when bond prices fall, …
Read More »FOMC Minutes: Fed To Move Policy Towards Neutral Expeditiously
According to the minutes of the March FOMC meeting, participants judged that it would be appropriate to move the stance of monetary policy towards a neutral posture expeditiously, reported Reuters. Balance Sheet Reduction“On balance sheet reduction, participants generally agreed monthly caps of about $60B for Treasury securities, $35B for mortgage-backed …
Read More »Global Bond Selloff Deepens as Fed Steps Up Q Tightening Language
This year’s unprecedented global bond rout accelerated after US Fed’s Lael Brainard said the US central bank will likely step up policy tightening by swiftly reducing its massive debt holdings.The prospect of aggressive Fed action drove the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasuries up five basis points to 2.60%, propelling it …
Read More »Analysts: NFP does not change the calculus for the Fed
According to analysts from TD Securities, today’s numbers reinforce the strength of the labor market. They forecast a 50 bp rate hike in May and June. Data released on Friday showed employers added 431000 jobs during March in the US. The unemployment rate fell to 3.6%. Key Quotes: “We think …
Read More »NFP Preview: Forecasts From 4 Major Banks
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the March jobs report on Friday, April 1 at 12:30 GMT and as we get closer to the release time, here are the forecasts by the economists and researchers of 4 major banks regarding the upcoming employment data. CIBC “Employers likely …
Read More »BoC’s Kozicki: “Prepared to act forcefully” to return inflation to 2.0% target
The Bank of Canada is “prepared to act forcefully” to return inflation to its 2.0% target, said Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki on Friday. Key Quotes:“It’s important to be clear that returning inflation to the 2% target is our primary focus and unwavering commitment.”“The pace and size of rate hikes and …
Read More »Gold Price Off Its Highs On Powell’s Inflation Related Comments
Gold prices have fallen from their session highs but are still holding on to gains even as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signed that the central bank could aggressively tighten interest rates more than markets are expecting.The gold market appears to be taking the hawkish comments in stride. April gold …
Read More »Powell: Obvious need to move expeditiously to a more neutral level, higher if needed
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell said on Monday that there is an obvious need to move expeditiously to a more neutral level and even more restrictive levels if needed to restore price stability.The risk is rising that there could be an extended period of high inflation that could push …
Read More »Nagel: ECB should raise interest rates if prices so require
ECB Governing Council member and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said on Monday that the ECB should raise interest rates if the price outlook so requires, if bond-buying ends in Q3 as now planned, rates could rise this year.Nagel said the risks of tightening policy too late have increased and any …
Read More »EUR/USD Retreats Amid Euro Profit Taking
After a strong week, the euro is suffering from some profit-taking and EUR/USD has fallen back to the mid-1.10s. EUR/USD’s failure to press higher beyond the 1.1100 level was likely also due to hawkish Fed commentary.Though not the worst-performing currency in the G10 on the day, the euro currently sits …
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