Fragmented and fragile are appropriate words to describe the American banking system. The recent financial shock has exposed the underlying problem: A flawed regulatory framework treats small and medium-size institutions unequally compared to their largest competitors. The current ... READ MORE >
Economics
Core business investment orders inched up in February
Durable goods orders in February fell for the second month in a row, driven mostly by declines in orders for automobiles, aircraft and defense. Total orders dropped by 1% while autos, aircraft and defense orders were down by 0.9%, 6.6% and 7.4%, respectively, according to Commerce Department ... READ MORE >
The impact of expectations for Fed policy on the money and bond markets
After three months of what seemed to be disregard for the direction of Federal Reserve policy, the money markets are once more expecting a tightening of financial conditions. But it took a banking crisis to get there. The bond and credit markets in our estimation are pricing in a recession ... READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims drop further
New claims for unemployment benefits inched lower than expected for the second month in a row last week, continuing to signal a tight labor market despite recent bank failures. Claims fell by 1,000 to 191,000, remaining below the pre-pandemic average and below expectations of a slight ... READ MORE >
Catch-25: Fed hikes rates amid financial stability risk
Joseph Heller’s novel “Catch-22” delved into the impossible conditions imposed upon people caught in situations from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions. That Catch-22 is an apt description of where the Federal Reserve finds itself as it lifted its ... READ MORE >
Canada inflation slows in February
Canada's inflation plunged to 5.2% from 5.9% on a year-ago basis in February as comparisons to last year’s elevated numbers kicked in, Statistics Canada reported on Tuesday. Prices spiked during the same period last year because of supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine. Inflation ... READ MORE >
Financial shock sending Fed proxy rate into restrictive terrain
The financial shock affecting the U.S. economy will most likely result in tightened lending standards, tip the economy into recession this year and cause mild disinflation. The quandary faced by the Federal Reserve—balancing price stability, full employment and financial stability—requires an ... READ MORE >
Coordinated central bank action follows the Credit Suisse-UBS merger
Global financial stress accelerated over the weekend, requiring coordinated action by central banks to stem dollar funding pressures in financial markets as investors digested the forced merger of Credit Suisse and UBS. Large additional tier one bondholder losses amid the $275 billion ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment fell in March, before the financial turmoil
Consumer sentiment in March dropped to 63.4 from 67 as consumers’ confidence in the current economic conditions and their expectations both worsened on the month, according to the University of Michigan’s survey released Friday. The decline in sentiment, though, was not influenced by the ... READ MORE >
The great deposit migration and emergency borrowing at the Fed discount window
The banking crisis has spurred a dramatic flight to safety at all levels of the financial system. From investors seeking the assurance of money market funds, to depositors shifting their money from smaller banks to systemically important financial institutions, to banks themselves accessing ... READ MORE >