The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds has moved to 1.55%, within 50 basis points of already low pre-pandemic rates. While anything near 1.60% is better than the 0.60% observed last year, we expect the yield to rise to 1.9% at the end of the year. … READ MORE >
monetary policy
Bank of Canada policy decision: Tapering bond purchases by $3 billion a week
An improved economic outlook and growing confidence among central bankers have created the conditions in which the Bank of Canada is now comfortable paring back the pace of bond purchases by $3 billion per week. … READ MORE >
FOMC meeting comment: Welcome to the boomtown
The onset of recovery in the U.S. economy and the growing likelihood of a robust expansion this year and next resulted in a significant upgrade of the Federal Reserve’s Summary of Economic Projections forecast through 2023. … READ MORE >
FOMC preview: Fed to consider adjustments key to the middle market
Much is riding on the Federal Open Market Committee policy rate meeting next week, given recent changes in the economic landscape. … 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 >
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 >
U.S. inflation outlook: Don’t believe the hype
Concerns about inflation risk are premature and overblown. Current monetary policy is well-positioned to support the reflation of the domestic economy, a return to full economic potential later this year and full employment over the next three years. … READ MORE >
Global fiscal policy: Reflation led by fiscal firepower
The policy response by governments and central banks around the world has focused on the integration of fiscal and monetary policy to offset the impact of the pandemic and create the conditions for economic expansion. … READ MORE >
Bank of England: Deteriorating economic outlook and negative interest rates
The Bank of England at its meeting on Thursday is expected to keep its policy matrix unchanged as it downgrades its economic outlook and publishes its view on the use of negative interest rates. … READ MORE >
FOMC meeting: Fed adds to debate on further fiscal aid
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that the arrival of vaccines has bolstered the economic outlook for later this year and noted the role of monetary policy in combating the adverse economic impact caused by the pandemic. … READ MORE >