Interest Rates

Japan's Inflation Accelerates, But Factory Output Dips, Complicating Rate Hike Outlook

Inflation in Tokyo, Japan's capital, accelerated in December, bolstering expectations for an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ), as reported by Reuters. However, a decline in factory output for November suggests that softening overseas demand could be weighing on the export-reliant Japanese economy. The Tokyo

BOJ Rate Hike Debate Intensifies: Some Members Eye Near-Term Move

The Bank of Japan's December meeting revealed a division of opinion concerning the timing of a potential interest rate hike, as reported by Reuters, citing minutes released by the bank. Some members suggested a near-term move is warranted, even as the BOJ ultimately held steady at 0.25%

China Holds Interest Rates Steady, Drains Record Liquidity Amidst US Trade Uncertainty

China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), has refrained from cutting interest rates and drained a record amount of cash from the financial system, signaling a cautious approach as the country navigates rising trade tensions with the US. The PBOC maintained the interest rate

BOJ's Ueda Sees Japan Nearing Sustainable 2% Inflation in 2025

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda believes the Japanese economy will make significant strides toward the central bank's 2% inflation target in 2025. He made these remarks on Wednesday to the business lobby Keidanren, as reported by Reuters. While this positive outlook suggests an upcoming interest

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

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

Trump's Policies May Limit Fed Rate Cuts in 2025

The Federal Reserve's "hawkish" quarter-point rate cut, the third of 2024, signals a shift towards a more cautious approach to monetary policy, and President-elect Donald Trump's proposed policies could further limit the central bank's ability to lower rates in 2025, according to

UK Bond Market in Turmoil as BOE Rate Path Remains Unclear

Long-term UK government borrowing costs are approaching their highest levels since 1998, with investors grappling with uncertainty over the extent to which the Bank of England (BOE) will cut interest rates next year, reports Bloomberg. The yield on 30-year bonds surged to 5.16% on Friday, marking the highest close

Japan's Inflation Accelerates, Keeping Rate Hike Prospects Alive

Japan's core inflation accelerated in November, rising to 2.7% year-on-year, according to government data released Friday, reports Reuters. This increase, slightly exceeding analysts' forecasts, keeps pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to consider further interest rate hikes. The BOJ, which opted to keep rates steady

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.