Don’t sweat the prospect of no Fed rate cuts, economist says

Federal Reserve Bank Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the bank’s William McChesney Martin building on March 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty Images Markets will continue to rally even if the Federal Reserve chooses not to cut interest rates this year, according to Steven … Read more

How shipping containers can make or break the global economy

The shipping container is a logistics marvel that can affordably move thousands of items from hundreds of different companies all around the globe.  If there is a slowdown in shipping-container circulation, there could be massive supply chain bottlenecks. “The skill involved in containerization is moving that container from point A to point B and getting … Read more

How Powell is determined not to repeat the Fed’s biggest mistakes

Federal Reserve Bank Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the bank’s William McChesney Martin building on March 20, 2024 in Washington, DC.  Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Slowly but surely, recessionary talk is dying down and confidence in the Federal Reserve is picking up. Last week, the central bank held its benchmark … Read more

Vanguard doesn’t believe the Fed will cut interest rates this year

Vanguard doesn’t expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year, defying the view from Fed officials that the central bank remains on track to reduce rates three times in 2024. The Fed on Wednesday left interest rates unchanged for the fifth consecutive time, as expected, keeping its benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a … Read more

Central bank holds rates steady, maintains three cuts coming

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady as expected and signaled it still plans multiple cuts before the end of the year. Following its two-day policy meeting, the central bank’s rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee said it will keep its benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a range between 5.25%-5.5%, where it has held … Read more

Isn’t Bitcoin better than Argentinian peso, wonders Uday Kotak

Amid reports that people in Argentina are buying Bitcoin to protect themselves from inflation, billionaire banker Uday Kotak today wondered whether the cryptocurrency is better than the Argentinian peso with 276% inflation. “When countries manage macro badly, savers move to protect the value of their savings. Traditionally it was gold. Now bitcoin too! While I … Read more

UK inflation slides to 3.4%, below expectations

Plane contrails streak across the sky over Regent Street on February 15, 2024 in London, England.  Dan Kitwood | Getty Images U.K. inflation came in lower than expected at 3.4% year-on-year in February, official figures showed Wednesday, down from 4% in January. Month-on-month, the headline consumer price index rose by 0.6%, returning to positive territory … Read more

RBI: Monetary policy must remain in risk-minimisation mode: RBI Bulletin

Mumbai: A recent reduction in cooking gas prices is likely to exert a softening effect on inflation that’s also being aided by declining non-food prices, but monetary policy must remain in “risk-minimisation” mode to firmly bring consumer prices back to the legally mandated target, central bank economists said. “Fuel prices remain in deflation, and this … Read more

What to expect from the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting Wednesday

Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Jerome Powell testifies before the House Financial Services Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 06, 2024 in Washington, DC.  Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The Federal Reserve has a lot to do at its meeting this week, but ultimately may not end up doing a … Read more

Bank of Japan made a landmark rate pivot. Here’s what happens next

Neon advertisements in Osaka’s Dotonbori district in Japan Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty Images Japan’s central bank on Tuesday finally ended its experiment with negative rates and unconventional easing tools which were aimed at reflating the world’s fourth-largest economy. The Bank of Japan’s decision came just days after Rengo, Japan’s largest federation of trade … Read more