So far I don’t feel compelled to address the coronavirus or Trumps new map for peace in any substantive form. The coronavirus is garnering an excessive amount of coverage already. As for Trump’s idea of a “peace” plan, this was always going to be more pieces of Palestine for Israel’s expansionary benefit. The very same plan is unfolding in the wider region around Israel. Trump has never hidden the fact that his primary concern was for Israel. Shrugs shoulders.Central Bankers Hold RatesThe news that the US Fed held rates steady while committing to higher inflation is of more interest to me. Particularly when one considers that the Bank of England held their rate, which will be inflationary Financial Times
The Bank of England on Thursday voted to keep interest rates on hold at 0.75 per cent as its Monetary Policy Committee decided the improvement in business sentiment since the general election made an immediate cut unnecessary.
As did Canada. Bank of Canada holds interest rate, but cuts growth forecasts as economy's engine loses momentumThe EU is looking at ending negative interests rates.
Under growing pressure over record low interest rates, the European Central Bank has decided it's time to give its unconventional policies another look.The central bank on Thursday launched a review of its strategy, the first since 2003. The ECB is expected to spend the next year evaluating the tools it uses to maintain stable prices, including interest rates and bond purchases. It will also examine how it can take climate change into account."We have to look comprehensively at the effectiveness of our monetary policy," President Christine Lagarde told reporters at a press conference in Frankfurt.The ECB first introduced negative interest rates for the 19 countries that use the euro in 2014 in a bid to boost inflation and economic activity following the region's debt crisis. But it has faced increased calls to put an end to a policy that's dragged on for longer than initially expected
I’m getting the idea that the banksters are looking to increase taxation through higher inflation while the US debt is deflated away. What’s going on with these types of moves?Is this a means of waging financial warfare against China? Thinking about the vast holdings that China has in US debt. In tandem with the coronavirus outbreak, which could wreak havoc on the Chinese economy.China Owns How Much US Debt?
- China owns about $1.1 trillion in U.S. debt, or a bit more than the amount Japan owns.
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5%The amount of U.S. debt that is held by Chinese entities.
China took the top spot among foreign creditors at $1.123 trillion, followed by Japan, at $1.042 trillion, as of December 2018.
How is increased inflationary pressure going to affect the consumer? In the US? In Canada? In the EU? In the UK? And likely Australia, as well? What other the global implications should we consider? This all feels very coordinated. But, why exactly? Anybody?Fed Decision on Interest Rates
The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee said Wednesday it will hold its benchmark funds rate in a range between 1.5% to 1.75%, where it has been since the latter part of last year.
The committee adjusted the language in its statement to reflect that policy is geared toward “inflation returning to the Committee’s symmetric 2 percent objective.”
The decision was unanimous. Several board members last year objected to the Fed’s rate cuts.
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its meeting this week and tweaked its post-meeting statement to reflect what appears to be a stronger commitment to nudge up inflation.Meeting market expectations, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee said Wednesday it will hold its benchmark funds rate between 1.5% to 1.75%, a range where it has been since the latter part of last year.The decision marked the second straight meeting the Fed made no changes to rates following three consecutive reductions in 2019. The rate sets the standard for what banks charge each other for overnight lending but also is used as a benchmark for much consumer debt.Little changed in the post-meeting statement, save for what could be interpreted as a bit more resolution toward raising what has been a lackluster pace of inflation. The committee adjusted the language to reflect that policy is geared toward “inflation returning to the Committee’s symmetric 2 percent objective.”That language differed from the long-standing boilerplate statement that the Fed was looking to get inflation “near” the benchmark that it considers healthy for a growing economy.In recent months, Fed officials have expressed concern over the inability to get inflation to the 2% level. While consumers welcome low prices, the Fed worries that low expectations will continue to keep inflation and, consequently, interest rates at below-normal levels, thus providing little flexibility to cut during future downturns.Officials hope they can jawbone inflation higher by committing to keeping rates low until the inflation level rises. They even have indicated, through the “symmetric” terminology, that they will allow inflation to run above target for a while.“We wanted to underscore our commitment to 2% not being a ceiling, to inflation running symmetrically around 2% and we’re not satisfied with inflation running below 2%,” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said during his post-meeting news conference.Powell said the change to the statement came following discussions at December’s meeting, when some members through “near” was a concession to sub-2% inflation.Elsewhere, there were few changes in the statement.The only other adjustment was a reduction in the characterization of consumer spending. That was cut from “strong” in December to “moderate” at this week’s two-day meeting.While the Federal kept its benchmark rate steady, it did make an adjustment to the interest it pays on funds stored at the central bank. The Fed boosted the interest on excess reserves rate, known as IOER, 5 basis points to 1.6%.Otherwise, though, the statement continued to see the labor market as “strong” and economic growth as “rising at a moderate rate.”The decision was unanimous. Several board members last year objected to the Fed’s rate cuts.
Please do share some thoughts?
From earlier today
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Syrian Army captures Maaret al-Numan, strategic M5 highway in Idlib- Russian Military Save RT Correspondent
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ISIS Sleeper Cell Attacks In Kirkuk, Twice in Just One Week.