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Central Bank

BOJ Minutes Highlight Cautious Approach to Rate Hikes Amidst US Uncertainty

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) board agreed in October to continue raising interest rates if the economy performs as expected, but some members expressed caution due to uncertainty surrounding US economic policy, according to minutes released by the central bank on Tuesday, as reported by Reuters. The BOJ's

Japan's Bond Market Brace for Decade-High Supply as BOJ Tapers Purchases

Get ready for a flood of Japanese government bonds. Investors are facing a perfect storm of rising interest rates and a massive increase in bond supply as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) scales back its bond purchases, reports Bloomberg. The Ministry of Finance typically releases its debt issuance plans in

Recap | Fed's Hawkish Cut and Market Sell-Off

The Federal Reserve, in its December meeting, delivered exactly what the market had predicted: a 25-basis-point cut to interest rates. Yet, instead of celebrating the anticipated move towards easier monetary policy, markets threw a tantrum. Stocks tumbled, bond yields soared, and volatility spiked – all on the back of a move
Recap | Fed's Hawkish Cut and Market Sell-Off

Colombia Central Bank Slows Rate Cuts Amidst Uncertainty

Colombia's central bank surprised markets on Friday by implementing a smaller-than-expected interest rate cut, opting for a 25 basis point reduction to 9.50%, as reported by Reuters. Analysts had unanimously predicted a 50 basis point cut. This unexpected move reflects the bank's cautious approach in

UK Retail Sales Growth Stumbles in November Despite Budget Concerns

British retail sales grew at a weaker-than-expected 0.2% in November, according to official data released on Friday by the Office for National Statistics, reports Reuters. This follows a 0.7% drop in October, leading up to Chancellor Rachel Reeves' first budget. Economists had anticipated a 0.5% monthly

Bank of Russia Holds Key Rate Steady Despite Rising Inflation

The Bank of Russia surprised economists by keeping its key interest rate at a record high of 21%, defying expectations of another significant hike to combat persistent inflation, reports Bloomberg. The central bank's decision, announced Friday, comes despite inflation accelerating to 8.9% in November, more than double

Singapore's MAS May Hold Off on Easing Despite Low Inflation

Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) may hold off on easing monetary policy at its January review, despite slowing inflation, as the central bank seeks to assess the impact of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, analysts told Reuters. This comes as data next week,

Fed Cuts Rates, But Mortgage Costs Climb Higher

Despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to lower interest rates and potentially make homes more affordable, mortgage costs continue to rise, reports the Wall Street Journal. This unexpected outcome is driven by several factors, including rising long-term Treasury yields and stubborn inflation. Average 30-year mortgage rates have climbed to

Norges Bank Holds Steady, But First Rate Cut Nears

Norway's central bank, Norges Bank, has held its key policy rate at 4.5%, signaling its commitment to cooling inflation, but also hinting at an impending shift towards monetary policy easing, reports the Wall Street Journal. The decision aligns with a recent Wall Street Journal poll. The 4.

South Korea's Potential Growth Rate Plummets to Around 2%, Warns Central Bank

South Korea's potential for economic growth is dwindling, according to a report released Thursday by the Bank of Korea (BOK), which attributes the decline to a lack of innovation and inefficient resource allocation. Reuters reports that the central bank estimates the potential growth rate, defined as the maximum