Central Bank Watch
Reserve Bank of Australia
March 1, 2016
The RBA Board decided to keep its official cash rate at 2.0%, the level since a 25-basis point cut last May. Between November 2011 and then, there were ten rate reductions totaling 275 basis points, including two 25-basis point moves in the first half of 2015. A statement released after the March policy meeting observes […] More
Deeper Analysis
February in Figures
March 1, 2016
In February, most 10-year sovereign debt yields fell significantly further. Short-term money market rates edged up in the United States but fell in the eurozone and Japan. The dollar rose against sterling but fell, especially relative to the yen, versus other currencies examined in this monthly feature. Equities for the most part lost further ground especially […] More
Deeper Analysis
Factory PMI Differential Between U.S. and Eurozone Narrowed 2.4 Points in February
March 1, 2016
The U.S. purchasing managers index for manufacturing improved 1.3 points to 49.5 in February, indicating a much more modest rate of contraction than in January. The reading was at a 4-month high. Meanwhile, Euroland’s manufacturing PMI dropped 1.1 points to 51.2, a 12-month low. The 2.4-point narrowing of the resulting difference between the two readings […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Manufacturing PMIs, U.S. Presidential Primaries, and the Start of a New Month
March 1, 2016
Today is Super Tuesday in America, with primaries in Texas, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Vermont for both Democrats and Republicans and also Colorado for the Democrats and Alaska for Republicans. A slew of February manufacturing purchasing managers surveys were released already. In 22 reporting countries, conditions worsened, i.e. growth slowed […] More
