Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell aims to bring inflation back down to its 2 percent target while avoiding causing a recession, as he addresses the uncertain economic outlook at the annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Two Federal Reserve officials suggest that interest-rate increases may be coming to an end, but one of them believes that further hikes may still be necessary depending on inflation trends.
Asian stocks sold off and the dollar reached an 11-week high against major peers as investors prepared for a potentially hawkish stance from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole meeting, with concerns about global growth and a firmer dollar weighing on crude oil.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell stated in a speech at the Jackson Hole symposium that the central bank is prepared to raise interest rates further if needed, signaling that they do not believe inflation is fully under control. The Fed will proceed cautiously and assess economic data as they determine whether to make further policy adjustments.
Two Federal Reserve officials, Boston Fed President Susan Collins and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, suggested that the Fed may be nearing the end of interest rate increases, although Collins did not rule out the possibility of further hikes if inflation doesn't decline.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that the fight against inflation still has a long way to go, emphasizing the need for extended periods of elevated interest rates to restore price stability. Powell stated that although inflation has cooled, the improvement may be temporary, and the Fed is committed to lowering inflation to their 2% target.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled at a conference of central bankers that more rate hikes could be on the way as the economy continues to run hot, despite a series of policy tightening measures, in an effort to combat persistent inflation.
Stock futures opened higher to start the final trading week of August, following positive remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the expectation of a cautious approach to interest rate hikes.
Top central bankers, including Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, emphasized the importance of keeping interest rates high until inflation is under control while also grappling with economic challenges and uncertainties at the annual Federal Reserve gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that inflation and economic growth remain too high and interest rates may continue to rise and remain restrictive for longer, while U.S. stocks rebounded and European markets closed slightly higher. Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai highlighted China's dominance in rare earth metals and the vulnerability of U.S. supply chains. Grocery delivery company Instacart filed paperwork for an IPO, and upcoming PCE and jobs data will provide insights into the Fed's rate decisions. Powell's ambiguous remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium led markets to focus on the prospect of a stronger economy rather than interest rate warnings.
Investors have been building up bets on the Federal Reserve announcing an end to its rate hikes, but the central bank's preferred inflation data and Chair Jerome Powell's comments suggest that the cycle may not be over yet.
Asian markets rose on Monday after Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell indicated a cautious approach to interest rate hikes, and Chinese shares surged following a cut in the duty on trades by the government.
Asia-Pacific markets set to rise following tech rally on Wall Street, Australian inflation numbers anticipated, and the U.S. dollar reaches its highest level against the yen in 2023.
The Federal Reserve meeting in September may hold the key to the end of the tightening cycle, as markets anticipate a rate hike in November, aligning with the Fed's thinking on its peak rate. However, disagreement among Fed policymakers regarding the strength of the economy and inflation raises questions about the clarity and certainty of the Fed's guidance. Market skeptics remain uncertain about the possibility of a "soft landing," with sustained economic expansion following a period of tightening.
The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, the PCE price index, increased in July, suggesting a higher likelihood of further interest rate hikes this year.
The Federal Reserve's primary inflation rate showed a decrease in core price pressures in July, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell is now focusing on price changes for services excluding housing and energy, which surged last month, potentially contributing to the gains in the stock market.
Traders believe that the US Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates further this year, as the latest jobs report showed an increase in unemployment and a cooling wage growth, prompting the Fed to potentially halt rate hikes and keep policy on hold.
The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge increased slightly in July, suggesting that the fight against inflation may be challenging, but the absence of worse news indicates that officials are likely to maintain interest rates.
Asia-Pacific markets are expected to have a mixed start to the week as investors await key data from Australia and China, while in the US, the unemployment rate rose to 3.8% in August and traders are betting that the Federal Reserve may not raise rates further this year. Additionally, the highly anticipated IPO of Softbank-backed Arm is expected to arrive later in the month.
Central banks across major developed and emerging economies took a breather in August with lower interest rate hikes amid diverging growth outlooks and inflation risks, while some countries like Brazil and China cut rates, and others including Turkey and Russia raised rates to combat currency weakness and high inflation.
The Federal Reserve is considering whether to raise interest rates even higher to combat inflation, but some policymakers believe that the current level is sufficient and should be maintained for an extended period.
Financial markets are preparing for a rebound in U.S. inflation in August, driven by higher energy prices, which could disrupt expectations of easy inflation control by the Federal Reserve.
Asia stock markets are softer ahead of U.S inflation data, with investors looking for signals about the Federal Reserve's next moves on interest rates.
The Wall Street Journal reports a notable shift in the stance of Federal Reserve officials regarding interest rates, with some officials now seeing risks as more balanced due to easing inflation and a less overheated labor market, which could impact the timing of future rate hikes. In other news, consumer credit growth slows in July, China and Japan reduce holdings of U.S. Treasury securities to record lows, and Russia's annual inflation rate reached 5.2% in August 2023.
Asian stock markets rose slightly as comments from central banks in China and Japan interrupted the dollar's rally, while investors awaited U.S. inflation data that could impact future Federal Reserve rate hikes.
The Consumer Price Index is expected to show an increase in inflation in August, with headline inflation rising to 3.6% and core inflation easing to 4.4%, but the market is accustomed to this trend and the Federal Reserve is unlikely to change its rates at the upcoming meeting.
U.S. consumer prices are expected to have increased the most in 14 months in August due to rising gasoline costs, while underlying inflation is forecasted to remain moderate, potentially prompting the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady.
Asia-Pacific markets rise despite higher-than-expected inflation in the US, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 increases as August unemployment numbers match forecasts.
Wall Street stocks set for higher open as August inflation suggests the Federal Reserve won't raise interest rates, while Arm's IPO and oil prices remain in focus.
Wholesale inflation in the US rose more than expected in August, with the producer price index increasing by 0.7%, the largest monthly gain since June 2022, counteracting recent data that suggested price increases had been slowing down.
August inflation rose to 3.7%, the highest month-to-month increase since June 2022, driven by rising gas prices, which accounted for over half of the rise, while prices for shelter and food remained elevated; however, the Federal Reserve's reaction to the data is uncertain as there are signs of prices moderating but also concerns over inflation remaining too high.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to maintain a cautious approach and emphasize the Fed's resolve to target inflation and keep interest rates high for an extended period at next week's policy meeting, according to economists. The general consensus among economists is that the Fed will keep rates steady and suggest a possible rate hike later this year while closely monitoring inflation and the labor market.
Higher-than-expected inflation has triggered a 'reflation trade' in markets recently, but the increases won’t last and investors should take heed.
