The Inflation Game: War, Peace and the Perils of Central Banking October 13, 2022 | City Talk The descent is always more sudden than the increase; a balloon that has been punctured does not deflate in an orderly way. — John Kenneth Galbraith I travelled with my family to London and Normandy in July 2022. Our primary purpose was to meet up in France with my father-in-law, who had dreamed of visiting the [...]
Federal Reserve backs third jumbo rate hike to unpick inflation out of US economy September 21, 2022 The Federal Reserve backed a third successive jumbo-sized interest rate hike today as it scrambles to unpick inflation out of the US economy. Chair Jerome Powell and co hoisted the global financial system’s most important rate 75 basis points to between three and 3.25 per cent. Wall Street edged lower after the move. The tech-heavy [...]
London’s FTSE 100 bumps higher after government halves firms’ energy bills September 21, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 bumped higher today as investors digest the details of the government’s energy support package for UK businesses. The capital’s premier index climbed 0.63 per cent to 7,237.64 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, rose 1.01 per cent to 18,714.67 [...]
London’s FTSE 100 edges higher ahead of central bank rate announcements September 20, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 slid yesterday, driven by traders bracing for a big week of central bank announcements. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.64 per cent to reach 7,190.16 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, slumped 1.48 to 18,519.69 points. The world’s biggest [...]
US dollar this year has become the only asset in town September 20, 2022 Investors have had an insatiable appetite for US dollars this year. According to the Wall Street Journal’s dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of some of the world’s top currencies, the dollar is its strongest for over a decade. One dollar will buy you the greatest amount of Japanese yen since the [...]
Federal Reserve and Bank of England set to tighten policy once again this week September 19, 2022 The US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England this week are set to hike interest rates steeply again in a bid to chase down scorching inflation, investors are betting. The two central banks are expected to look through recession fears and continue their fight against historic price rises. Despite inflation dropping to 8.3 per [...]
Federal Reserve to press on with third 75 basis point hike after inflation overshoot September 13, 2022 The US Federal Reserve is set to hike the world’s most important interest rate by another historic amount to tame sticky inflation, Wall Street warned today. A hotter than expected inflation reading published today prompted a wave of economists to bet on the Fed lifting US borrowing costs 75 basis points for the third time [...]
London’s FTSE 100 struggles for direction ahead of Jackson Hole August 25, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 struggled for direction today driven by investors seemingly holding positions until central bankers signal at Jackson Hole how firm they will be with taming inflation. The capital’s premier index added 0.11 per cent to reach 7,479.74 per cent, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health [...]
World’s central banking elite gather in Jackson Hole amid darkening inflation clouds August 25, 2022 The world’s central banking elite are convening at the US Jackson Hole resort today with a bleak inflation backdrop looming over the annual event for the first time in decades. Chiefs of the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England will deliver remarks that will be closely watched by investors for clues on how [...]
London’s FTSE 100 edges lower ahead of Jackson Hole August 24, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 edged lower today driven by investors fretting over how stern central bankers will be with tackling inflation. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.22 per cent to 7,471.51 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, inched down 0.01 per cent to [...]