Search
South African Official: Common Currency Requires Central Bank, Threatens Monetary Policy Independence
26.8.2023
South Africa’s minister of finance has explained why he believes that no country is ready for a common currency, including a unified BRICS currency. “Setting up a common currency presupposes setting up a central bank, and that presupposes losing independence on monetary policies, and I don’t think...
Federal Reserve CBDC Would Threaten Privacy and Freedom, Report Warns
22.8.2023
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) recently sounded the alarm on the potential dangers of transitioning to a central bank digital currency (CBDC). This revelation, in a report penned by Michael Faulkender and David Vasquez, highlights the probable perils associated with the Federal...
Zimbabwe Central Bank Says Gold-Backed Tokens Set to Be Used for ‘Transactional Purposes’
13.8.2023
The Zimbabwean central bank recently said it is close to rolling out gold-backed digital tokens “for transactional purposes.” According to the bank’s governor, the gold-backed digital tokens have already proven to be an effective monetary policy instrument. Central bank governor...
Japanese Yen Hits 20-Year Low Against US Dollar; BOJ Maintains Loose Policy Amid Inflation Pressures
2.8.2023
In the last month, Japan’s official currency has dipped slightly more than 1% in comparison to the U.S. dollar. Then, on Tuesday, the Japanese yen plummeted to its weakest position against the greenback in over 20 years, a shift that came after the Bank of Japan opted to keep its extremely...
ECB Tightens Grip With 12th Consecutive Rate Hike; Lagarde Asserts ‘No Cuts’ Amid Lingering Inflation Concerns
27.7.2023
The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised the benchmark bank rates by 25 basis points (bps) citing that inflation was down but still remained “too high for too long.” When ECB president Christine Lagarde was pressed about cutting rates by reporters, Lagard insisted the central bank was “not going...
Federal Reserve Raises Federal Funds Rate by 25bps Amidst Moderate Economic Growth
26.7.2023
In the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) report, it was stated that the U.S. economy has been experiencing moderate growth and members of the committee have decided to raise the federal funds rate by 25 basis points (bps) in order to keep a handle on inflation. Fed Raises Benchmark Bank...
Crypto Catalysts: Likely Rate Hike on the Menu as FOMC Begins Latest Monetary Policy Deliberations
25.7.2023
The U.S. central bank has been telegraphing its intent in the weeks after halting rate increases last month for the first time in over a year. ThePersonal Consumption Expenditures report arrives Friday, but cryptos and other risk-on assets have been largely immune to macro events
Experts Warn of Impending Recession in the US as Survey Reveals 59% Chance by July 2024
14.7.2023
A recently published survey by Bankrate reveals that there is a 3-in-5 likelihood of a recession occurring in the United States within the next year. Bankrate’s survey of economists firmly indicates that the chances of a recession taking place in the U.S. are greater than the chances of...
Former SEC Official Calls CBDC ‘the Most Absurd Financial Idea’ Citing Unnecessary Risks, Privacy, Cybersecurity Concerns
5.7.2023
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) former head of internet enforcement has called the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) “the most absurd financial idea in the history of monetary policy.” He warned that a central bank digital currency not only creates...
San Francisco Fed President Deems 2 Rate Hikes in 2023 ‘Reasonable,’ Urges Caution in Monetary Policy
26.6.2023
Mary Daly, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, expressed her views this week, stating that she believes two additional rate hikes this year would be appropriate. However, she maintains a neutral stance regarding the forthcoming July Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting...
Bitcoin Regains Ground to Reach $25.2K, but Investors Remain Jittery About U.S. Economy, Monetary Policy
15.6.2023
Tether’s USDT stablecoin loses its $1 peg, while other major cryptos spend their day in red territory
Fed Pauses Interest Rates After 10 Consecutive Hikes; Committee Likely to Raise Rates ‘Somewhat Further’ This Year
14.6.2023
In accordance with market predictions, the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to halt its rate hike this month after ten consecutive hikes since last year. The members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) asserted that the U.S. banking system is still “sound and resilient,” and...
IMF Urges Fed to Maintain Tightening Policy Amid Inflation Concerns, Citing ‘Challenges’ Ahead
9.6.2023
On Thursday, International Monetary Fund (IMF) spokesperson Julie Kozack urged the U.S. Federal Reserve and several other central banks to maintain a restrictive monetary policy known as tightening. Kozack stated that the U.S. central bank may need to keep the federal funds rate higher “for...
Market Outlook: CME Fedwatch Tool Points to Increased Chance of June Rate Hike
26.5.2023
According to the CME Group Fedwatch tool on Thursday, there was a 51% probability of a quarter-point rate increase during the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on June 14. Just a fortnight ago, the Fedwatch tool indicated a slim possibility of the federal funds rate reaching...
Rate Hikes Affecting Housing Markets in Eurozone, United States, ECB Study Shows
19.5.2023
Interest rate hikes in the euro area are already causing a decline in housing investment, the zone’s central bank revealed in a study. While smaller than in the United States, the impact of the monetary policy tightening on the Old Continent is likely to grow further, the regulator expects. Housing...
Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rate by 25bps, Insists ‘US Banking System Is Sound and Resilient’
3.5.2023
The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), announced on Wednesday that the central bank would raise the federal funds rate by 25 basis points (bps), as was widely expected by the market. This marks the tenth consecutive occasion in which the Fed...
Morgan Stanley Strategist Warns of Equities Sell-Off in Response to ‘Hawkish’ Fed Message
2.5.2023
On Monday, Morgan Stanley’s equity strategist, Michael Wilson, shared his thoughts on the state of Wall Street. He expressed his belief that a sell-off could be imminent, and that this could occur as a result of U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell’s upcoming remarks...
US Central Bank Expected to Raise Lending Rate by 25bps: Experts Predict Final Hike of 2023
30.4.2023
After the most recent increase in the federal funds rate, the U.S. Federal Reserve is set to raise the lending rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.25% in three days, according to expectations. A recent poll of 105 economists revealed that 94 of them predict a 25bps rate hike will occur during...
Japan’s Inflation Surges to 3.5% as New BOJ Governor Takes the Helm
29.4.2023
This week, the Statistics Bureau of Japan unveiled the latest core consumer price index (CPI) report for the country, revealing a surge to 3.5%. This figure comes as a surprise to analysts who had predicted a more modest 2.9% for the end of the quarter. It’s worth noting that Japan’s...
Microstrategy Founder Michael Saylor to Argentines: ‘You Need Bitcoin’ — Critics Insist BTC Is Too Volatile
28.4.2023
Micheal Saylor, the founder of Microstrategy, has told people living in inflation-stricken Argentina that they now “need bitcoin.” While many bitcoiners have welcomed Saylor’s suggestion, a few critics have said the top crypto asset’s volatility makes it an unsuitable...