Japan's Inflation Beats Forecasts, end of Negative Rates in Sight
Japan's core consumer inflation slowed for a third straight month in January but beat forecasts and held at the central bank's 2% target, keeping alive expectations it will end negative interest rates by April.
Japan's core consumer inflation slowed for a third straight month in January but beat forecasts and held at the central bank's 2% target, keeping alive expectations it will end negative interest rates by April.
The 2.0% gain in the core consumer prices index (CPI) was slower than the 2.3% increase in December, internal affairs and communications ministry data showed on Tuesday, underscoring views waning cost-push inflation from commodity imports could ease the pain of higher living costs.
However, the gain beat median market forecasts for a 1.8% rise, reaffirming expectations hefty pay hikes will be offered by big firms at labor-management wage talks on March 13 that would pave the way for the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to end negative interest rates in March or April.
Powell: Economy Progresses, but Inflation Still 'Too High' to Adjust Benchmark Rate
On Wednesday, March 20, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) declared that there will be no change to the federal funds rate for the time being.
China Central Bank Buying Set Stage for Gold's Rally
Gold has been trading for months around the $2,000 mark — a level that would have been viewed as stratospheric just a few years ago, and which was only breached for the first time in 2020.
Powell Emphasized that Fed isn't Ready to Start Cutting Interest Rates
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday, March 6, reiterated that he expects interest rates to start coming down this year, but is not ready yet to say when.
