U.S. import prices
Post-Deal Optimism Holding
June 16, 2026
Much still remains unknown regarding the future evolution of U.S.-Iran talks, but yesterday’s rally in equities and decline of long-term interest rates following the announced interim deal has persisted. Stock markets this Tuesday rose 4.1% in Indonesia, 2.1% in South Korea, 0.9% in Taiwan but just 0.1% in Japan where Bank of Japan officials hiked […] More
Important Chinese, Japanese and U.S. Data Out… Next Up: Putin & Trump Talks in Alaska
August 15, 2025
The dollar fell overnight by 0.6% against the euro and peso, 0.5% versus the yen, and 0.3% relative to the Swiss franc and sterling. Ten-year sovereign debt yields climbed eight basis points in France and Italy, seven bps in France and Spain, six bps in Germany but just two bps in Japan and a single […] More
Mid-Friday Briefing
December 13, 2024
Compared to Thursday closing levels, ten-year sovereign debt yields have risen five basis points in the United States, Germany, Spain and U.K., four bps in Italy, and six bps in France. In spite of higher November CPI, PPI and import price inflation, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut its interest rate next Wednesday […] More
Several Central Bank Policy Reviews and Signs of Receding Inflation
October 16, 2024
Central bank policy interest rates were cut today in the Philippines, Thailand and Namibia, each by 25 basis points, while Indonesia’s 7-day repo rate, which had been reduced at last month’s review, was not changed. Just prior to the release of U.S. import and export price figures, the dollar was showing no net change overnight […] More
Persistent Doubt Over Size of Next Week’s Fed Interest Rate Cut
September 13, 2024
One of the hallmarks of the Federal Reserve’s quest during the past two decades for a more transparent U.S. monetary policy has been to avoid if at all possible surprising market participants. That means verbally preparing investors to expect a change in policy before it actually happens, not only from a timing perspective but also […] More
Recession Fears Assuaged by Data
August 15, 2024
Since midyear, worries about intractable inflation had been overcome by concerns that tight monetary polices in the United States and elsewhere had hung around too long and were now pushing economies toward recession. Data reported today seemingly lessen the possibility of that alternative danger. A Goldilocks scenario with low unemployment, positive economic growth and continuing […] More
Far-Right Political Ascendance Around World Freaking Out Financial Markets
June 14, 2024
The relationship between investors and left-right political balance is complicated. On the one hand, the very, very rich enjoy the tax policies favored by far-right politicians. At the same time, all market participants acting in concert are clearly unsettled by the swing of voters toward extreme-right politics. The biggest political event of 2024 will be […] More
Disappointing Japanese GDP, Another Flurry of U.S. Data Releases, and Elevated U.S. Equities
May 16, 2024
In U.S. stock futures trading ahead of the opening bell, the Nasdaq, SPX, and Dow are each hovering around record highs hit yesterday. Investors await the release today of U.S. industrial production, housing starts, jobless insurance claims, import prices, the latest Philly Fed manufacturing survey and more comments from Fed officials such as Bostic and […] More
Dollar Strengthens to 2024 High
April 12, 2024
Fear that Iran is going to attack Israel is augmenting economic factors strengthening the dollar, which climbed 0.7% on a weighted basis to its strongest point since November. Today’s release of U.S. import price data also buoyed the U.S. currency. Import price gains in March of 0.4% both on month and year-on-year exceeded expectations. Import […] More
Turmoil in the Mideast and U.S. House of Representatives Buoys Oil and Gold but Depresses Equities and Long-Term Interest rates
October 13, 2023
Price figures continued to dominate the menu of economic data releases on Friday. Markets averted riskier assets, amid disarray in the U.S. Congress and as fears mount of catastrophic warfare in the Mideast. The Monetary Authority of Singapore left its policy stance unchanged. Equity markets fell 2.3% in Hong Kong, 1.0% in Singapore and South […] More
