Since the start of the most recent market turmoil, investors have pushed U.S. five-year credit default swaps roughly 20 basis points higher. … READ MORE >
Economics
Tariffs begin to show their impact on business spending
But when orders for new aircraft from Boeing are stripped away, American businesses’ new spending on equipment looked weak in March as uncertainty around trade policy heightened. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Private sector deleveraging risk amid trade conflict
One should not discount the possibility of further financial volatility because of the leverage of non-financial bank intermediaries. … READ MORE >
Green Impact Exchange wins approval from the SEC
The SEC recently approved the registration of the Green Impact Exchange as the first national securities exchange dedicated to sustainability-focused companies—but it comes at a time of regulatory rollback and political opposition to sustainability efforts. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Currency politics, capital flows and U.S.-Japanese relations
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato are set to start a dialogue on currency rates when they meet this week in Washington. Their meeting should capture in vivid fashion the lack of clarity in U.S. trade policy at a time when Japanese decision makers are … … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Reservation wages decline as worker discontent grows
The reservation wage, or the lowest wage rate at which a worker will accept a particular job offer, has declined this year to $74,135 from $82,236 last year, according to the New York Fed. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: A word about central bank independence
Cutting the policy rate into conditions best described as stagflation would only intensify that movement, driving capital flows into euros, yen and francs while driving interest rates higher. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Term premium rising as Fed independence at risk
Trade shock has turned into financial shock in the form of a rising term premium as investors unwind risk and diversify away from dollar-denominated assets. … READ MORE >
Housing starts plunge in March as builder sentiment sours
Housing starts fell by 11.4% in March to 1.3 million on an annualized basis, well below the equilibrium level between supply and demand. … READ MORE >
Market Minute: Inventories increase again in February as tariffs loom
Businesses continued to brace for the imposition of tariffs, with total inventories increasing by 0.2% in February after rising by 0.6% in January. … READ MORE >