Brazil posts strong job figures, signals stronger activity; inflation a concern
By Marcela Ayres BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil released vigorous job market figures on Tuesday, reinforcing views of stronger economic activity at the beginning of this year but keeping the central bank wary of potential impacts on inflation. Both the unemployment…
Drops in commodity prices worldwide have ‘hit a wall’ — that’s bad news for inflation: World Bank
The days of energy and other commodities serving as a deflationary force could be nearing an end, the World Bank warned, citing geopolitical tensions that have put pressure on demands for oil, industrial metals and other supplies. Commodity prices have…
Russia Holds Rates After Putin Urges Caution – The Moscow Times
Russia’s Central Bank on Friday held interest rates unchanged after President Vladimir Putin cautioned against cutting borrowing costs prematurely. Moscow last year hiked its key interest rate to 16% to combat a surge in inflation, as the Russian currency wobbled…
Milei’s Team Sees Argentina Inflation Slowing Faster Than Economist Survey
(Bloomberg) — Argentine President Javier Milei’s economic team sees monthly inflation slowing much faster this year than analysts anticipate, a rare insight into his advisers’ projections as he tries to pull the country out of crisis. Most Read from Bloomberg…
The Fed’s Forecasting Method Looks Increasingly Outdated as Bernanke Pitches an Alternative
(Bloomberg) — The Federal Reserve is stuck in a mode of forecasting and public communication that looks increasingly limited, especially as the economy keeps delivering surprises. Most Read from Bloomberg The issue is not the forecasts themselves, though they’ve frequently…
South Africa faces upside risk to inflation, financial conditions, central bank governor says
South Africa faces upside risks to its inflation outlook, Central Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said, but the latest data has not shown evidence of price pressures from food despite adverse El Nino weather wreaking havoc across Africa. Data out on Wednesday had shown headline…
Fed’s Preferred Inflation Gauge Is Set to Back Rate-Cut Patience
(Bloomberg) — Federal Reserve officials are about get further confirmation that inflation progress has stalled, supporting what appears to be a shift in tone to keep interest rates higher for longer than previously anticipated. Most Read from Bloomberg Policymakers’ preferred…
Fed’s rate-cut foot-dragging grates on global peers at IMF meetings
By Marcela Ayres, Leika Kihara and Karin Strohecker WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Finance chiefs from economies large and small are scrambling to keep pace with the Federal Reserve’s rapid resetting of rate-cut expectations as U.S. inflation data roils markets from London…
Fed’s Bostic: open to a rate hike if inflation progress stalls
(Reuters) – Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic on Thursday said that if inflation does not continue to move toward the U.S. central bank’s 2% goal, as he expects it will, central bankers would need to consider an interest-rate…
Rate Chokehold on World Economy Is Set to Loosen Only Slowly
(Bloomberg) — The high tide for global interest rates has passed, but respite for the world economy may be limited as policymakers stay wary at the threat of inflation. Most Read from Bloomberg That’s the dominant theme this year prevailing…