Central Bank Watch
FOMC Statement and Powell Press Conference
April 28, 2021
Nothing remarkable emerged from the Federal Reserve today. Monetary policy settings were not changed. The fed funds interest rate target of 0-0.25% was kept, and and so were the amounts of Treasury securities and MBS that the central bank will buy each month. Forward guidance was likewise retained as it’s been. Officials need to see […] More
Central Bank Watch
FOMC Preview
April 28, 2021
In the six weeks since the last FOMC meeting, the dollar has fallen 1.3% against the euro and 0.3% versus the yen. The 10-year Treasury yield is now three basis points lower than then although it has been rising lately. The Dow Jones Industrials has risen 3.0%, while the price of West Texas Intermediate crude […] More
Central Bank Watch
Full Percentage Point Interest Rate Hike by Georgia’s Central Bank
April 28, 2021
The National Bank of Georgia, like central banks in Russia and Ukraine earlier, today announced its second interest rate increase of 2021. Georgia’s one-week refinancing rate was lifted by 100 basis points to 9.5%, exceeding the end-2019 level of 9.0%. The policy rate had been reduced three times last year between April and August and […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
A Double Feature for Investors Today of Big Events: Powell then Biden
April 28, 2021
The FOMC wraps up its two-day policy review today. The policy statement, due at 14:00 EDT, will concede a brightening growth picture with accelerating inflation but is unlikely to modify forward guidance that welcomes a period of inflation somewhat above target rather than aiming to quash such quickly. Fed Chairman Powell’s press conference afterward begins […] More
