Much is riding on the Federal Open Market Committee policy rate meeting next week, given recent changes in the economic landscape. … READ MORE >
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RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index: Bank of Canada to remain accommodative
We anticipate that the Bank of Canada will maintain its overnight target rate of 0.25% and retain its current policy of accommodation in its announcement on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
With embedded finance, Walmart takes aim at consumer financial services
In January, Walmart announced its fintech startup with Ribbit Capital, a fintech-focused venture capital firm. Through this partnership, Walmart plans to build affordable digital financial products for its more than 230 million customers who visit its 10,800 locations. … READ MORE >
The outlook for interest rates, in 11 charts
We now expect the 10-year yield to rise to 1.75% by the end of the year, with risk of a move at or above 2% on the back of what we expect to be the best year of growth since 1984. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Amid talk about inflation, expectations have remained in check
Despite all the talk about rising inflation, there’s not much difference in inflation expectations between last year and this year, or last month and this month, according to an economic model. … READ MORE >
Flattening Phillips curve implies greater space to address economic needs
During the past few decades, as the economy has shifted from one based on manufacturing to one based on information and digital technologies, this traditionally inverse relationship between unemployment and inflation as shown in the Phillips curve has flattened. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Estimating unemployment during the pandemic
Friday’s headline U3 unemployment rate of 6.2% for February understates the number of out-of-work people in the United States, not by design, but by the peculiar circumstances of the pandemic. … READ MORE >
February employment report: The devil really is in the details
The major policy takeaway from the new report is that there has not been a dramatic acceleration in hiring, despite the top-line gain of 379,000 jobs. … READ MORE >
Powell statement: Market challenging Fed’s credibility on inflation targeting
The knee-jerk market response that sent the 10-year Treasury yield to 1.54% during Thursday’s speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell implies that the Fed may have to act to dampen yields at the long end of the curve. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of March 1
In this week’s roundup we look at new data coming out of the U.K. and Israel on their COVID-19 vaccination programs’ results. We also highlight improvements in public perception of the pharmaceutical industry, a new executive order on supply chains and more. … READ MORE >