Deeper Analysis
Is U.S. Growth Really Strengthening?
March 28, 2018
Although the first derivative of the U.S. economy’s size has been very consistently positive, the answer to the above question is more debatable. In the nearly nine years since the Great Recession ended in mid-2009, real GDP rose in 35 of 36 quarters through end-2017, and the exception was a mere 0.9% annualized on-quarter dip […] More
Central Bank Watch
South African Reserve Bank Cuts Interest Rate for First time in Eight Months
March 28, 2018
By a narrow 4-3 vote, the Monetary Policy Committee cut South Africa’s repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.5%. The first move of this easing was made in July 2017, and today’s reduction was the second. A released statement observes reduced in-target price movement and diminished inflation risks since the previous meeting in January, […] More
Central Bank Watch
Bank of Thailand’s Interest Rate Again Held at 1.50%
March 28, 2018
A sole dissenting vote in favor of raising the Thai central bank interest rate to 1.75% was outgunned by a 6-vote majority of the Monetary Policy Committee that preferred leaving the rate at 1.5%. The level has been there since a pair of 25-basis point cuts in March and April of 2015. Six earlier quarter […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Investors Not Sure What to Think
March 28, 2018
Although stocks traded mostly lower overnight, U.S. futures point to a rise around the open. However, a pattern seems to be forming of early resilience giving way to sell-offs in the final part of each session. This is reminiscent of 2008-09, when much of the markets steep decline occurred in the final 30 minutes of […] More
