The dark side and the light side of the Fed

Dec 17, 2015 02:42 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

Looking ahead, the Fed is expected to hike three or perhaps four times next year. The base case of three hikes assumes that there is a soft spot in the markets or the economy at some point in the year ahead, causing the...

Polish labor market strengthens

Dec 17, 2015 01:01 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

The Central Statistical Office in Warsaw released the November 2015 gross average wage level, which indicated a year-over-year rise of 4.0%, a tenth of a percent greater than consensus. Average paid employment for November...

Experts weigh in on Fed hike: it was the right call, but will it work?

Dec 17, 2015 00:38 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy Central Banks

Editors note: The Federal Reserves policy-setting committee decided to raise its target interest rate known as the Fed funds rate for the first time in nine years. It increased the rate from a range of zero to 0.25% to a...

FOMC: Lift-off, finally

Dec 16, 2015 22:32 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

After probably the longest run-up in history, the Fed hiked interest rates at todays meeting. In a unanimous decision, the target range for federal funds was increased to 0.25%-0.50%. Fed chair Yellen promised a gradual...

Fitch: U.S. Fed Rate Rise May Add to Sovereign Challenges

Dec 16, 2015 21:37 pm UTC| Research & Analysis Central Banks

The U.S. Federal Reserves (the Fed) decision to increase interest rates is in line with Fitch Ratings expectation that the U.S. central bank would start to normalise monetary policy by the end of 2015. This process has...

Federal Reserve raises policy rate for the first time in nearly a decade

Dec 16, 2015 20:00 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

They did it. As near-universally expected, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced an increase in the federal funds target rate of 0.25 percentage points to a range of 0.25% to 0.50%. The upper range of this...

Last thoughts ahead of expected Fed lift-off

Dec 16, 2015 17:38 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

It is widely expected that, after a seven-year period at near-zero, the US Fed will raise interest rates. Economists anticipate a 25bp increase in the target range for the fed funds rate. Admittedly, Chicago Fed President...