U.S. inflation roller coaster prompts fresh look at long-ignored money supply
NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) – The amount of money sloshing around the U.S. economy shrank last year for the first time on record, a development that some economists believe bolsters the case for U.S. inflation pressures continuing to abate.The Federal Reserve’s main measure of the nation’s money stock – known as M2 money supply […]
Splits emerge as U.S. House Republicans demand Biden negotiate on debt limit
WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives are divided over how hard a line to take on the debt ceiling, but were united on Wednesday in demanding that Democratic President Joe Biden agree to negotiate on spending as part of any deal.Hard-line Republican conservatives, who have the power to […]
Explainer: Shutdown? Default? Washington’s risky new debt ceiling standoff
WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Partisan brinksmanship in the U.S. Congress has made government shutdowns seem a routine part of governing in the past decade, but the current standoff in Washington over raising the $31.4 trillion federal debt ceiling is significantly riskier.WHAT IS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?Congress is supposed to pass detailed spending legislation for each […]
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 […]
Putin ally warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine
Medvedev: nuclear powers don’t lose major warsMedvedev tells NATO to think about the risksPatriarch: desire to destroy Russia would mean end of the worldLavrov: We will ‘sober up’ NATO leadersMOSCOW, Jan 19 (Reuters) – An ally of President Vladimir Putin warned NATO on Thursday that a defeat of Russia in Ukraine could trigger a nuclear […]
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, […]