Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen says US interest rates should rise in 2015 July 11, 2015 Janet Yellen has reiterated the case for raising interest rates later this year, saying the US economy recovery has solid underpinnings and is expected to strengthen in coming years. In a speech, Yellen said the labour market in America had not yet fully recovered and progress in lifting inflation to the 2 per cent target [...]
June 2015 FOMC Minutes: The Fed is worried about Greece July 8, 2015 Minutes from the Federal Reserve's June meeting show officials want to see further evidence the economy is picking up before they hike rates, and are concerned about the Greek debt crisis. The minutes from its meeting June 16-17 show officials have been pleased by positive economic developments such as strong consumer spending and signs wages [...]
Nasdaq rises to record high on Fed interest rate hint June 18, 2015 The Nasdaq closed at a record high on Thursday, rising 68 points to 5,132.95. Read more: Nasdaq hits a record high as US stocks rise The 1.3 per cent rise was triggered by encouraging economic data released by the Federal Reserve yesterday which indicated interest rates could be raised for the first time since 2008 later [...]
Fed fuels interest rate hike on “moderate” growth in US economy June 17, 2015 The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged at a historic low of 0 to 0.25 per cent, but offered hope of an increase in short-term interest rates with positive statements about the US economy. Read more: Why it’s not time to dump US equities – a Fed interest rate hike won’t drag down stocks The [...]
Why it’s not time to dump US equities: A Fed interest rate hike won’t drag down stocks June 16, 2015 For US equity investors, it’s all eyes on the Fed until we see the first lift-off in interest rates in September or potentially December this year. We’ve got beyond the patch of weak economic data earlier in 2015 and are returning to stronger growth, as signalled by healthy labour market data in recent months. Ironically, [...]
Bitcoin spikes above $240 on Fed interest rate fears June 16, 2015 Bitcoin has spiked against the dollar, broaching the $240 mark for the first time this month. Read more: How to really make money from Bitcoin The cryptocurrency reversed sharp falls from earlier this month to jump as high as $241.09 today, as investors awaited a policy update from the US Federal Reserve which is expected [...]
Global turbulence to rock UK: Trouble in the Eurozone, Fed rate hikes and a Chinese slowdown could hit markets June 8, 2015 Yesterday, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) revised its UK economic growth forecasts to 2.4 per cent and 2.5 per cent for 2015 and 2016 respectively, down from 2.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent. It wasn’t troubles at home that concerned the business organisation. The CBI cited economic instability in Greece, a sluggish Eurozone, [...]
US jobs growth bolsters chance of Fed rate hike June 5, 2015 US JOB growth accelerated sharply in May and wages picked up, signs of momentum in the economy that bolster prospects for an interest rate hike in September. Nonfarm payrolls increased 280,000 last month, the largest gain since December, the Labor Department said yesterday. While the unemployment rate rose to 5.5 per cent from a near [...]
Federal Reserve keeps interest rates near zero but hints at hike in the near future April 29, 2015 Following its two-day policy meeting, the Federal Reserve has confirmed it is keeping its target interest rate at close to zero per cent, but says it will raise it soon if the US economy continues to grow. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the US central bank has kept its rates at a record low in [...]
Pimco just hired former Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke as its adviser April 29, 2015 Pimco has appointed former US Fed chief Ben Bernanke – the second consulting job Bernanke has taken in the past couple of weeks. Bernanke will "contribute his economic expertise and insights to the firm's investment process and periodically engage Pimco's clients", the investment manager said today. Pimco chief executive Douglas Hodge said Pimco said Bernanke's [...]