Sage Investment Club

Japan higher rates expand debt pile, balanced budget seen delayed again

Japan fiscal estimates assume higher interest rates than beforeBOJ’s move to widen 10-yr target band heaps pressure on ratesJapan seen to lag FY2025 budget balancing target by one yearTOKYO, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Japan raised its estimates for long-term interest rates over the coming few years in government’s twice-yearly fiscal projections issued on Tuesday, following […]

ECB policymakers spar on rate outlook beyond Feb hike

Knot, Kazimir explicitly back 50 bps hike in MarchLagarde sees significant, steady pace rate riseStournaras, Visco call for cautionInflation high but fallingFRANKFURT/PRAGUE, Jan 23 (Reuters) – European Central Bank policymakers laid out diverging views on future interest rate hikes on Monday, suggesting that moves beyond next week’s half a percentage point increase remain contentious.The ECB […]

Japan warns of dire finances as BOJ struggles to contain yields

Japan’s finances intensified severity to unprecedented pointRounds of extra budget, stimulus measures aggravate financesPublic finance is the cornerstone of a country’s trust – finminEconomic revival comes first before fiscal reform in long runParliament debate begins, all eyes on new BOJ governor nomineeTOKYO, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Japan’s finances are becoming increasingly precarious, Finance Minister Shunichi […]

Brazil and Argentina to discuss common currency

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Brazil and Argentina aim for greater economic integration, including the development of a common currency, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Argentine leader Alberto Fernandez said in a joint article they penned.”We intend to overcome the barriers to our exchanges, simplify and modernize the rules and encourage […]

ECB set to raise rates by 50 basis points in February and March, Knot says

AMSTERDAM, Jan 22 (Reuters) – The European Central Bank (ECB) is set to raise interest rates by 50 basis points in both February and March and will continue to raise rates in the months after, ECB governing council member Klaas Knot said in an interview with Dutch broadcaster WNL on Sunday.”Expect us to raise rates […]

Gold gains on softer dollar, slower Fed rate-hike bets

U.S. weekly jobless claims data due at 1330 GMTGold benefiting from flight to safety after U.S. data – analystU.S. producer prices fall more than expected in DecemberJan 19 (Reuters) – Gold prices rose on Thursday and are set to snap a three-day losing streak, helped by a weaker dollar and as signs of cooling U.S. […]

Gold back up above $1,900 level as dollar loses ground

Jan 18 (Reuters) – Gold reversed course to trade higher on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar pulled back from session highs and expectations of a slower pace of Federal Reserve rate hikes supported prices above the $1,900 threshold.Having dipped in the last two sessions, spot gold rose 0.5% to $1,917.26 per ounce by 1254 GMT, […]

Republicans’ debt plan could cause ‘economic catastrophe’ – White House

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) – Republicans’ plan to pay some U.S. debts as they come due but not others is a “recipe for economic catastrophe” that threatens the global economy, the White House said on Tuesday.House Republicans are planning to move a “debt prioritization” measure by the end of March that would call on the […]

Analysis: Bank of Japan’s yield curve control in danger as policy backfires

BOJ’s hope to buy time with wider yield band backfiresBoard to debate market distortions at Tuesday-Wednesday meetingMany in BOJ prefer to stand pat, some open to tweak – sourcesDec inflation seen hitting 4.0%, more pressure for BOJTOKYO, Jan 16 (Reuters) – The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is under pressure to change its interest rate policy […]