Federal Reserve System
US delivers strong jobs growth to end 2015
Report shows nonfarm payrolls expanded by 292,000 in in December, while figures for both October and November revised up; unemployment rate unchanged at 5% for the third consecutive month
Risk that US public lowers inflation expectations, Chicago Fed president warns
The Federal Reserve’s undershooting of its inflation target in recent years may lower the inflation expectations of the American public, making future monetary policy harder, Evans warns
Some FOMC members still see ‘considerable’ risks to inflation forecasts
The Federal Reserve’s decision to increase the federal funds rate target was a ‘close call’ in the view of ‘some’ FOMC members; mixed views among governors and presidents on inflation outlook
Cleveland Fed president ‘fully supported’ rate hike
Loretta Mester expresses support for FOMC’s decision in December, but notes greater importance of policy path than date of lift-off for macroeconomic performance
Rate rises may be appropriate when asset prices are high, Fischer says
The Fed's vice-chair says raising interest rates may be appropriate if asset prices reach ‘excessively high’ levels across the economy; he weighs the options for tackling ZLB constraint
LatAm response to Fed sees two hikes
Mexico and Chile both raise rates by 25bp in the wake of the Fed decision, with currencies remaining relatively stable in the aftermath
HKMA hikes rates as Asia takes Fed decision in stride
Hong Kong raises rates for first time in over nine nears as regional markets remain calm; Norman Chan warns of capital outflows and ‘possible shocks' ahead
Yellen warns not to 'overblow' liftoff as Federal Reserve raises rates
Federal Open Market Committee will keep close eye on ‘actual and expected progress’ toward 2% inflation, after embarking on first tightening cycle since 2006 with 25bp hike
BoE’s Shafik says wages key to rate hike
Deputy governor says economy has been difficult to read in recent years but stronger growth in wages would be a major factor in prompting her to vote for a rate hike
TCH and VocaLink set sights on US real-time payments
CEOs emphasise effort to create level playing field for 14,000 US financial institutions to access the system, as the firms finalise real-time payments deal
Forecasters expected ‘significant’ drop in bond yields in wake of Fed easing, paper finds
Staff report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York examines how professional forecasters revised their predictions in aftermath of Fed decisions
Policy-makers need better models and data on bank and non-bank links, Fischer says
Data on a range of activities remains ‘inadequate’, while research has only shed ‘partial light’ on issues surrounding troubled financial institution during the crisis, Fischer says
Sarb deputy sees opportunity for reserve managers in Fed hike
Daniel Mminele encourages reserve managers to focus on the ‘investment horizon’ to take advantage of higher yields in the wake of Fed action
Yellen signals growing confidence ahead of Fed decision
Fed chair expects some key headwinds to inflation to diminish next year; continued improvements in labour market and stable expectations help ‘bolster’ her confidence in a return to target
‘Gradual and low’ may be new normal for Fed, Brainard says
Lael Brainard says lower neutral interest rates and stubborn inflation make it likely the federal funds rate will need to be tightened ‘more gradually and to a lower level’ than in the past
Fed to encourage supervisory staff to air divergent views
Federal Reserve will develop practices encouraging staff to exchange and respond to divergent views in 2016; New York Fed and Richmond Fed boost supervisory resources following review
Policy-makers must be prepared to handle Fed rate rise, Fischer says
Emerging market central bankers must be sure US rate rises do not have ‘major consequences’, Fed vice-chairman says; shift to more consumer-led Asian growth may benefit other economies
Trinidad and Tobago aims to stay a step ahead of the Fed
Jwala Rambarran tells Central Banking the central bank must remain ‘ahead of the curve’ and ensure a ‘strong enough’ rate differential between assets denominated in local and US currency
Shift in FOMC language intended to show December hike ‘may well become appropriate’
Minutes from October meeting reveal thinking behind change in language; a ‘couple’ of members raised concerns the change could be misinterpreted as a stronger signal than it was
Dallas Fed’s Kaplan expects policy to ‘remain accommodative for some time’
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president says FOMC was ‘prudent’ to wait for more data in past few months; it is ‘probable’ rates will be lifted gradually
Turkish paper finds Fed staff forecasts superior to rivals
Working paper finds forecasts in the ‘Greenbook’ were consistently more accurate than their commercial equivalents between 1974 and 2009
Dudley leads Fed speeches as December meeting looms
William Dudley says conditions necessary for rate hike ‘could soon be satisfied’ but notes concerns about inflation outlook; Evans, Fischer and Lacker also speak on US outlook
Neel Kashkari to head Minneapolis Fed from 2016
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis reveals Neel Kashkari will succeed Narayana Kocherlakota as president; past experience includes oversight of Troubled Asset Relief Program
Sarb’s Mminele fears a ‘lengthening drought’ in emerging market capital flows
Sarb deputy warns emerging market nations must maintain “utmost vigilance” as they are buffeted by the effects of divergent monetary policies and fears about the state of the Chinese economy