Fed returns to pulpit with six speeches Friday

  • May 4, 2017
  • no comment
  • realestatelife

There will be six Federal Reserve officials speaking on Friday and economists will be listening for clues about balance-sheet policy. The central bank did not shed any new light on the internal discussions on its plans to reduce its $4.5 trillion balance sheet on Wednesday.

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Consumer sentiment plummets after Comey testimony, University of Michigan says

  • June 16, 2017
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  • realestatelife

The UMich consumer sentiment gauge fell to 94.5 in early June from 97.1 in May. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected a slight increase to 97.3. Instead, it is the lowest reading since November.

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U.S. adds 211,000 jobs in April; unemployment 4.4%

  • May 5, 2017
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  • realestatelife

The economy generated 211,000 new jobs in April, rebounding from a disappointing March and pointing to steady U.S. economic growth ahead. Economists polled by MarketWatch had predicted a 190,000 increase in nonfarm jobs. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.4% from 4.5%, a postrecession low last matched in May 2007, the government said Friday. Average wages

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Chicago Fed President Charles Evans: Central bank could be done raising rates this yeaR

  • June 19, 2017
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  • realestatelife

Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said the central bank could be done raising rates this year, offering a relatively dovish stance. The central bank official, who is a voting member this year of the Fed’s policy-setting committee, said he supports the current policy of “very gradual” interest-rate hikes and a slow reduction of the balance

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March JOLTS better

  • May 9, 2017
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  • realestatelife

March JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) shows vacant jobs, 5.743 vs. estimates of 5.670M. Not a large factor for interest rate pricing.

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March Wholesale Investories better

  • May 9, 2017
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  • realestatelife

March Wholesale Inventories 0.2% vs. estimates of -0.1%. This will not have an influence for interest rates.

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April Import Prices Improve

  • May 10, 2017
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  • realestatelife

April Import Prices 0.5% vs. estimates of 0.2%. Import Prices YOY 4.1% vs. estimates of 4.2%. A slight negative for interest rate pricing, but generally not a large factor.

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New York Fed President William Dudley : U.S. economy as “pretty good.”

  • June 19, 2017
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  • realestatelife

New York Fed President William Dudley struck a more hawkish tone, arguing against slowing the pace of interest-rate increases, and describing the U.S. economy as “pretty good.” Dudley’s remarks on Monday were cited as adding to yields extending gains following the Fed’s Wednesday announcement of its plan to shrink it balance sheet as it cut

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Bank of England votes 7-1 to hold key rate at 0.25%

  • May 11, 2017
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  • realestatelife

The Bank of England on Thursday left its key interest rate at 0.25%, meeting widely held expectations. The vote to hold the rate steady was 7-1, with board member Kristen Forbes backing an increase. The central bank left unchanged the size of its asset purchase program at £435 billion ($562 billion) and its corporate-bond purchase

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Treasury yields slip as Fed’s Evans says rates may linger lower for longer

  • June 20, 2017
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  • realestatelife

U.S. Treasury yields traded slightly lower on Tuesday, as Boston Federal Reserve President Eric Rosengren said investors may need to get accustomed to a protracted period of low interest rates. In a speech in Amsterdam, Rosengren said lower rates may be a more permanent fixture, and that dynamic could pose financial stability risks that central

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