MAS Holds Monetary Policy Steady as Strong Growth Raises Inflation Risks 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady, Upgrades Growth and Inflation Outlook for Japan 
Jerome Powell Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Trump Effort to Fire Fed Governor, Calling It Historic 
China Holds Loan Prime Rates Steady in January as Market Expectations Align 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Economists have seen this all before as fundamentals deteriorate, central banks act. It happened in third quarter 2012. With earnings growth expectations negative, the Federal Reserve stepped in with a third round of quantitative easing supplemented by Operation Twist for an unprecedented $1 trillion of stimulus per year. U.S. markets opened 2013 strong and never looked back. And now it's happening across the globe. The Fed set the tone by holding steady on rates following both its September and October meetings, and the European Central Bank declared its intention to stimulate big. But it was the People's Bank of China that upped the ante with two significant rate cuts in recent weeks, sparking a surge in global markets.
"This central bank-hosted party is most definitely not a celebration of economic prosperity; inflation, GDP and corporate profit expectations continue to be cut by Wall Street analysts, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization. Should the old adage "don't fight the Fed" be expanded to "don't fight the global central banks"? It sure looks that way given the latest explosive equity rally in the face of slowing global growth", says Voya Global.
