In September 2024, inflation in the Euro zone fell to 1.8%, falling below the European Central Bank’s target of 2%, according to early data from Eurostat released on Tuesday 1st October 2024 Excluding the more volatile prices of energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco, the core inflation rate stood at 2.7%,Read More →
In September 2024, the German consumer price index softened to 1.8%, falling below expectations based on preliminary data from Destatis, the national statistics office. Month-on-month, the preliminary harmonized CPI saw a slight decrease of 0.1%. According to recent analysis, the last instance of the German harmonized CPI falling below 2%,Read More →
As anticipated in the U.S., prices rose in August 2024, while the annual inflation rate fell to its lowest point since February 2021, according to a Labor Department report on Wednesday 11th September 2024. This development likely now paves the way for a Federal Reserve interest rate reduction next weekRead More →
Is the U.S. economy already weaker than the headline data suggests and should the U.S. Federal Reserve already be easing? In the U.S. recent data (Friday 30th August 2024) showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s favored measure of inflation, ticked up 0.2% last month, asRead More →
The stock markets mix of toil and trouble is in the cauldron ready for a bear market in 2025, if not before. Why? These concerns are now all combining, and it will likely add-up to a bear market of around 25% in 2025 (this is my best guess). Remember –Read More →
On Friday 26th July 2024, U.S. stocks surged, and Wall Street concluded a volatile week on an upbeat note as investors considered the latest U.S. inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 654 points to settle at 40589. The S&P 500 climbed to 5459 while the Nasdaq Composite advancedRead More →
Jerome Powell on Tuesday 9th July 2024 reportedly expressed concern that holding interest rates too high for too long could jeopardize economic growth. This comment came ahead of the consumer price index reading due this week. Preparing for a two-day session on Capitol Hill, the central bank chief stated thatRead More →
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has expressed satisfaction with the current progress in the inflation battle but indicated a desire for additional positive data before considering a reduction in interest rates. “We want to be more confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward 2% before we start the processRead More →
Inflation has reached the Bank of England’s target for the first time in nearly three years, having soared to 11.1% in October 2022, the highest in over four decades – driven by a spike in energy and food prices following the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the yearRead More →
The S&P 500 soared to a new high, surpassing 5400 for the first time on Wednesday 12 June 2024, following the Federal Reserve’s latest policy statement and the May 2024 inflation report, which suggested a softening of inflationary pressures. The S&P 500 index rose by 0.85%, closing at around 5421Read More →
The U.S. economy exceeded job growth expectations in May 2024, alleviating concerns of a labour market downturn but potentially diminishing the Federal Reserve’s motivation to cut interest rates. Non-farm payrolls surged by 272,000 for the month – a significant increase from April’s 165,000 and surpassing the consensus forecast of 190,000.Read More →
On Thursday, 6th June 2024, the European Central Bank announced a reduction in interest rates, a move that was widely expected, despite persistent inflationary pressures in the eurozone, which comprises 20 nations. The central bank’s primary rate has been lowered to 3.75%, a decrease from the historic high of 4%Read More →
Eurozone inflation increased to 2.6% in May 2024, according to Eurostat’s announcement on Friday 31st May 2024. Analysts had anticipated a 0.1% rise from the 2.4% headline figure reported in April 2024. Core inflation, which omits the unstable effects of energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco, rose to 2.9% from April’sRead More →
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) advises that the Bank of England should contemplate reducing its interest rates to 3.5% by the end of 2025. This suggestion is made as the UK’s economy steadily recovers from the recession caused by the pandemic, while policymakers are dealing with inflationary challenges. The ‘thinking’Read More →
The April inflation came in higher than anticipated, falling to 2.3%, as reported by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday 22nd May 2024. Traders have now reduced their expectations of a June interest rate cut by the Bank of England (BoE). Markets reacted negatively in early trading. The headlineRead More →
All three major indices closed at records on 15th May 2024 The Dow climbed 0.88%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.17%, ending the session above 5,300 for the first time. The tech-related Nasdaq Composite closed higher by 1.40%. Dow closed at a new high of: 39908 S&P 500 closed at a new high of: 5308 Nasdaq CompositeRead More →
The decision comes as inflation, which measures price rises over a period of time, remains above the Bank’s 2% target at 3.2%. But bank says cuts are coming. Is the 2% target still a sensible benchmark? The 2% inflation target set by central banks has been a widely adopted benchmarkRead More →
The Fed have deliberated over ‘transitory’ inflation – (they got that wrong). They have teased us about when rates will be cut (still waiting). And now we are told no rate cut but: ‘the next rate move is unlikely to be up!’ Probably better to say and do nothing atRead More →
House prices declined in April 2024, with affordability pressures persisting for potential buyers, as reported by Nationwide. The UK’s largest building society reported a 0.4% decrease in house prices compared to the previous month. The average cost of a home now stands at £261,962, which is 4% lower than inRead More →
Inflation in the U.K. eased to 3.2% from 3.4% in March, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday 17th April 2024. But a higher-than-expected reading creates more concern as investors push back bets on the timing of the first Bank of England (BoE) rate cut. Economists expected 3.1% asRead More →
Markets have fretted about core inflation recently, now analysts are concerned about a highly specific price gauge within the data – ‘supercore’ inflation. This measure tracks services inflation, excluding food, energy, and housing, which has recently surged, rising 4.8% year-over-year in March 2024 and over 8% on a three-month annualisedRead More →
The U.S. economy is on a rip, with employers adding around 303,000 jobs in March 2024 – the largest increase in almost a year. As the world’s largest economy continues to surge, questions arise about the Federal Reserve’s next move regarding interest rates. Stronger-than-expected Job Growth The unemployment rate fellRead More →
Eurozone inflation eased to 2.4% in March 2024, as indicated by preliminary figures released on Wednesday 3rd April 2024. This decrease has increased expectations that interest rate cuts may start in the summer 2024. Market analysts anticipate that the central bank will commence reductions in interest rates starting in JuneRead More →
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated on Wednesday 3rd April 2024 that policymakers will need time to assess the current inflation situation, leaving the schedule for potential interest rate reductions unclear. Referring to the stronger-than-anticipated price pressures at the year’s onset, Powell reportedly stated that he and his colleagues areRead More →
In a move that reverberated across global financial markets, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) recently bid farewell to its negative interest rate policy – the last of its kind in the world. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the realm of central banking and has far-reaching implications for economiesRead More →
The U.S. Consumer Price Index, a comprehensive gauge of the cost of goods and services, rose by 0.4% for the month and increased by 3.2% compared to the previous year. The annual rate was marginally higher than expected. The monthly rate was slightly above the forecast of 0.3%. This mayRead More →