DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Oil prices edge higher on OPEC demand estimate, while cold hits U.S. output
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices edged higher on Thursday as OPEC forecast relatively strong growth in global oil demand over the next two years and a cold blast in the U.S. disrupted some oil production. OPEC, in a monthly report, said world oil demand will rise by a robust 1.85 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 to 106.21 million bpd. For 2024, OPEC saw demand growth of 2.25 million bpd, unchanged from its forecast in December. Meanwhile, in North Dakota, a top oil-producing U.S. state, below-zero degrees Fahrenheit temperatures caused oil output there to fall by 650,000 to 700,000 bpd, to less than half its typical output, the state said. Domestic crude stockpiles rose last week by 480,000 barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Wednesday.

Persons: Fatih Birol Organizations: Brent, U.S . West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, International Energy Agency, Reuters Global Locations: U.S, North Dakota, Africa, United States, Yemen, Iran, Gaza

☆ BoC to cut rates starting in Q2 2024, house prices seen flat in 2024: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Mumal Rathore | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem walks outside the Bank of Canada building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada June 22, 2020. But Macklem also said "right now, it is not time to start thinking about cutting interest rates." Interest rate futures are pricing the first rate cut in March, earlier than the poll prediction. "Accompanying labour market weakness should put downward pressure on inflation and prompt the Bank of Canada to cut the policy rate around of the spring of 2024," they wrote. That was despite several government measures announced in the latest Fall Economic Statement to boost housing supply and help lenders dealing with homeowners at risk amid high interest rates.

Persons: Blair Gable, Macklem, It's, Avery Shenfeld, Robert Hogue, Sebastian Mintah, Mumal Rathore, Ross Finley, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Bank of Canada, REUTERS, Reuters, BoC, U.S . Federal, Barclays, CIBC Capital Markets, of Canada, RBC, Desjardins, Moody's, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, BENGALURU, stagnate

☆ High cost of capital a bane for energy transition ahead of COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Divya Chowdhury | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Rula Rouhana Acquire Licensing RightsMUMBAI, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Advocates for the energy transition are concerned ahead of the COP28 summit in Dubai about the high cost of capital available to make change happen, as policymakers ratchet up their rhetoric on the need for tight monetary policy. COP28 is widely expected to focus on climate finance, specifically to build on the G20 nations' commitment to triple renewables deployment to about 11,000 gigawatts by 2030, which will need funds of around $4.5 trillion. Climate finance is going to be the "Achilles' heel" of COP28, said Vaibhav Chaturvedi, fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Linda-Eling Lee, head of the MSCI Sustainability Institute, said companies and investors cannot be expected to commit long-term capital to the energy transition if policymakers change track suddenly. Agreements on greater transparency in disclosures, along with innovations in finance, will help mobilise more private sector funds, Lee said.

Persons: Rula, Gauri Singh, IRENA, Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Chaturvedi, Linda, Eling Lee, Lee, Divya Chowdhury, Jan Harvey Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, Rights, International Renewable Energy Agency, Reuters Global Markets, Council, Energy, Bridgetown Initiative, World Bank, Bank, MSCI Sustainability Institute, Finance, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, Rights MUMBAI, Dubai, Barbados, Bridgetown, Mumbai

☆ BOJ to end negative interest rates in 2024, over 80% of economists say: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Satoshi Sugiyama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While none of 26 economists predicted changes in the upcoming December BOJ meeting, many foresaw the negative rate policy, which has set Japan's short-term deposit rate at minus 0.1%, would reach the end of the line next year. In the Nov. 15-20 poll, 22 of 26, or 85%, of economists said the BOJ would end the policy by the end of next year. Having watered down YCC, the BOJ's next focus is to end its negative interest rate policy and push short-term rates to zero, sources previously told Reuters. Close to 85% of poll respondents forecast the BOJ would end its YCC policy, while the rest said it would tweak the scheme again, the poll found. EYES ON NEXT YEAROf 22 economists in the poll who chose 2024 for the end of negative rates, more than a half, 12, opted for the April 25-26 meeting.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, Hiroshi Namioka, Namioka, Fumio Kishida's, Chiyuki Takamatsu, Satoshi Sugiyama, Veronica Khongwir, Sujith Pai, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of, Reuters, Capital, Research Institute, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, D, Management, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Bank of Japan

☆ Morgan Stanley's Andy Saperstein diagnosed with cancer - memo
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Andy Saperstein, Co-Head of Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley, speaks during the Reuters Global Wealth Management Summit in New York City, New York, U.S., June 13, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 21 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley co-President Andy Saperstein has been diagnosed with cancer, he wrote in an internal memo seen by Reuters on Tuesday. In the email to staff, Saperstein said the news have been a shock. Saperstein, co-president that heads wealth and investment management, was considered to succeed CEO James Gorman earlier this year. Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andy Saperstein, Morgan Stanley, Brendan McDermid, Saperstein, James Gorman, Niket, Devika Organizations: Wealth Management, Reuters Global Wealth Management, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Short-seller Jim Chanos to close hedge funds - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jim Chanos, Founder and Managing Partner of Kynikos Associates LP speaks at the Reuters Global Investment Outlook summit at the Thomson Reuters building in New York, November 19, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 17 (Reuters) - After nearly four decades, Jim Chanos is shutting down hedge funds he manages that wager against companies he believes are overpriced or fraudulent, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. His firm, Chanos & Co., manages less than $200 million today, down from $6 billion in 2008, the report added. Chanos is known for his bets against Tesla (TSLA.O), on which he went short in 2016. Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jim Chanos, Mike Segar, Chanos, Tesla, Pritam Biswas, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Kynikos, Reuters Global Investment, Thomson Reuters, REUTERS, Wall Street, Chanos, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York, Bengaluru

[1/5] Actor Nadjma Abshir, 29 year old, performs a scene from the play ‘Desperate Times’, a sell-out comedy presentation by the Somali women's theatre company ‘Side eYe Productions’, at the Rich Mix arts centre in London, Britain, October 25, 2023. Artistic director Hannah Abdule, a civil servant, co-founded Side eYe Productions in 2019 to create opportunities she felt were denied to people like her. As part of its inclusive mission, Side eYe aims to give opportunities to Somali women with little theatrical experience. "Our parents had more of a mentality of survival and that is getting traditional jobs in sciences, teaching," Abshir said. "We've done what we've needed to do and are looking at the things that truly interest us."

Persons: Nadjma Abshir, Hannah McKay, Hannah Abdule, Sabrina Ali, tangles, Amal Abdi, Abshir, Barbara Lewis, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Somali women's, Rich Mix, REUTERS, Edinburgh Fringe, Somali, Somali Arts and Culture, Thomson Locations: Somali, London, Britain, England, Sheffield, Bristol

☆ Inflation to dog world economy next year, postponing rate cuts: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Hari Kishan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Despite broad success in bringing inflation down from its highs - the easier bit - prices are still rising faster than most central banks would prefer and hitting their inflation targets is likely to be tough. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which often leads the interest rate cycle, was also forecast to wait until July-September 2024 before cutting. The majority backing no cuts until the second half of 2024 has also grown stronger for the Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank Indonesia and the Reserve Bank of India. Even the Bank of Japan, the outlier sticking to ultra-loose policy through this entire round of inflation, is now expected to abandon negative interest rates next year. Crucially, most economists agree the first easing steps will not be the beginning of a rapid series of cuts.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Christine Lagarde, Douglas Porter, it's, Nathan Sheets, Hari Kishan, Ross Finley, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: El Progreso Market, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Reuters, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, ECB, Fed, BMO, Reserve Bank of New, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank, Reserve Bank of India, Bank of Japan, Citi, Thomson Locations: Mount Pleasant, Washington ,, BENGALURU, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank Indonesia, Bengaluru, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London, Shanghai, Tokyo

☆ India's festival season to bring some cheer to economy, say economists
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Milounee Purohit | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nearly 75% of economists, 25 of 33, said spending during this year's festival season, which lasts from October through December, will be higher compared to last year. Among those, 21 said slightly higher and four said significantly higher. "From a year-on-year growth rate perspective, it may not be a substantial upside so to speak." Economists generally agree India needs an even higher growth rate to generate enough jobs for millions of young people who enter the workforce every year. When asked what was India's potential economic growth rate over the next 2-3 years, economists returned a median range of 6.0%-7.0%.

Persons: Anushree, Dhiraj Nim, Alexandra Hermann, Milounee Purohit, Anant Chandak, Susobhan Sarkar, Veronica Khongwir, Hari Kishan, Ross Finley, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Reserve Bank of, ANZ Research, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: Delhi, India, Reserve Bank of India

☆ Wall Street strategist and '10 Surprises' author Byron Wien dies at 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Byron Wien, Vice Chairman of Private Wealth Solutions group, speaks during the Reuters Global Investment 2019 Outlook Summit, in New York, U.S., November 13, 2018. Wien built his wide following on Wall Street during two decades at investment bank Morgan Stanley (MS.N) where he rose to be the firm's chief investment strategist of the United States. Soon after, at age 76, when most people were enjoying retirement, Wien joined private equity firm Blackstone to offer direction and guidance. "My wife hopes I give this up as soon as possible," Wien told the New York Times about writing it. He told the New York Times in 1985 "I'm not sure I can do this job," about the strategist role at Morgan Stanley.

Persons: Byron Wien, Brendan McDermid, Wien, Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, Steve Schwarzman, Jon Gray, I'm, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Chris Reese Organizations: Wealth Solutions, Reuters, REUTERS, Blackstone Inc, Wien, Pequot Capital Management, Blackstone, U.S, New York Times, Harvard, Svea, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, United States, China, Wien

☆ Bank of England rate has peaked, to stay at 5.25% through Q2
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jonathan Cable | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The Bank of England is likely done with policy tightening and will leave Bank Rate at 5.25% on Nov. 2, according to the vast majority of economists polled by Reuters who did however caution the chance of another increase this year was high. Only 12 economists forecast a quarter point rise to 5.50% at the November Monetary Policy Committee meeting. Inflation was expected to gradually decline across the forecast horizon but it won't reach target until Q2 2025, the poll showed. Around one-third of economists expected the Bank to act earlier. The BoE was forecast to reduce Bank Rate by 50 basis points in the fourth quarter, putting it at 4.50% by year-end.

Persons: James Smith, Elizabeth Martins, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, BoE, ING's Smith, Jonathan Cable, Prerana Bhat, Sujith Pai, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Bank of England, Reuters, Bank, ING, MPC, HSBC, United States Federal Reserve, European, Thomson

☆ BoC likely done raising rates, to cut by mid-2024 say economists: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Milounee Purohit | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The risk of a revival in inflation, last measured at 3.8%, has led most to forecast now is not the time for the central bank to strongly signal they are done raising rates. Twenty-nine of 32 economists polled Oct. 13-20 expect no change to the central bank's 5.00% overnight rate (CABOCR=ECI), with the remaining three expecting a 25 basis point hike. While most are confident the central bank is done hiking, a significant minority of economists who answered an additional question, 8 of 18, said the risk of the BoC raising rates at least once more is "high". Still, a two-thirds majority, 20 of 30, see the BoC cutting its overnight rate at least once before end-June 2024. The distribution of where economists saw the overnight rate by end-June was split many ways.

Persons: Randall Bartlett, underscoring, Tony Stillo, Milounee Purohit, Maneesh Kumar, Ross Finley, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Bank of Canada, BoC, Desjardins, U.S . Federal Reserve, Oxford Economics, Bank, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Canada

☆ Fed done hiking rates, but higher for longer message gaining traction
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Prerana Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Several Fed officials have indicated that may work as a substitute to further rate rises, while still stressing rates will remain higher for longer. Over 80% of economists, 91 of 111, had no rate cut in their forecast until at least the second quarter of next year. That 55% majority slipped from over 70% in a September poll, extending a trend of rate cut calls being pushed to later. As recently as July, a majority of economists polled said the Fed would start cutting by end-March. All but two of 28 respondents to an extra question said the bigger risk was the first rate cut comes later than they expect.

Persons: Brett Ryan, Jerome Powell, it's, Lawrence Werther, Prerana Bhat, Rahul Trivedi, Sarupya Ganguly, Ross Finley, Jonathan Cable Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Reuters, Fed, Deutsche Bank, Economic, of New, Daiwa, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, of New York

☆ Reuters' Issam Abdallah Covered World's Biggest Events With Bravery and Insight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

That passion was the same for a papal visit or covering an earthquake," said Reuters Europe Video Editor Eleanor Biles. While reporting in some of the world's most dangerous places, Abdallah had a reputation among his peers as careful and cautious in difficult environments. Lebanon's army has said Israel fired the missile that killed Abdallah, and another Reuters reporter at the scene said he was killed by projectiles fired from the direction of Israel. Abdallah first began providing Reuters with footage some 16 years ago, working as a freelancer while completing his university studies. Abdallah carried a video camera and a camera for still photographs wherever he went, zipping around Beirut on his motorcycle.

Persons: Issam Abdallah, Abdallah, Eleanor Biles, Ellen Francis, Israel, Abu Aun, Labib Nasir, Nasir, Liliane, Samia Nakhoul, Angus McDowall, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Islamic, Reuters, Washington Post, Journalists, ITN, Lebanese, North, Reuters Global Foreign Locations: BEIRUT, Lebanon, Islamic State, Syria, Iraq, Russian, Ukraine, Beirut, Europe, Khiyam, Israel, Lebanese, zipping, East, North Africa, Turkey

☆ Obituary: Reuters' Issam Abdallah covered the world's biggest events with bravery and insight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

That passion was the same for a papal visit or covering an earthquake," said Reuters Europe Video Editor Eleanor Biles. While reporting in some of the world's most dangerous places, Abdallah had a reputation among his peers as careful and cautious in difficult environments. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLebanon's army has said Israel fired the missile that killed Abdallah, and another Reuters reporter at the scene said he was killed by projectiles fired from the direction of Israel. Abdallah first began providing Reuters with footage some 16 years ago, working as a freelancer while completing his university studies. Abdallah carried a video camera and a camera for still photographs wherever he went, zipping around Beirut on his motorcycle.

Persons: Issam Abdallah, Abdallah, Eleanor Biles, Ellen Francis, Zhanna Lishchynska, Ueslei Marcelino, Israel, Abu Aun, Labib Nasir, Nasir, Liliane, Samia Nakhoul, Angus McDowall, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Islamic, Reuters, Washington Post, REUTERS, Journalists, ITN, Lebanese, North, Reuters Global Foreign, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Lebanon, Islamic State, Syria, Iraq, Russian, Ukraine, Beirut, Europe, Khiyam, Zaporizhzhya, Israel, Lebanese, zipping, East, North Africa, Turkey

☆ BlackRock’s Larry Fink squares off with Uncle Sam
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Laurence Fink, founder and chief executive officer of BlackRock, Inc. speaks during the Reuters Global Investment Outlook Summit in New York, U.S., November 13, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - BlackRock (BLK.N) calls every dollar it manages a “unit of trust” expressed by clients. The trouble for the investing behemoth led by Larry Fink is that there’s an increasingly reliable custodian of such assets these days: Uncle Sam. Even so, $644 billion has crowded into retail money-market funds this year, crimping BlackRock’s all-important stock portfolios. Fink has been bulking up in infrastructure, credit and other investments that are harder to trade, but which also generate higher fees.

Persons: Laurence Fink, Lucas Jackson, ”, Larry Fink, Uncle Sam, Fink, crimping, Jonathan Guilford, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: Inc, Reuters Global Investment, REUTERS, Reuters, BlackRock, Graphics, Treasury, X, Infosys, Thomson Locations: BlackRock, New York, U.S, Europe

☆ India to hold top spot for economic growth but risks to downside remain: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Milounee Purohit | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

After a stellar 7.8% expansion last quarter, economic growth was expected to moderate to 6.4% this quarter and then drop to 6.0% in the October-December period before slowing to 5.5% in early 2024. "A lot of the drivers that drove the really strong growth from the middle of 2021 to last year have been exhausted. A weak external backdrop is weighing on Indian economic growth as well as sluggish private consumption and sluggish investment." A majority of economists, 22 of 36, who answered an additional question said the risks to their FY 2023/2024 GDP growth forecasts were skewed to the downside. Government measures should cool food prices in the coming months, but rising oil prices will likely place upward pressure on headline inflation."

Persons: Narendra Modi's, we're, Miguel Chanco, Alexandra Hermann, Milounee Purohit, Sujith Pai, Anant Chandak, Veronica Khongwir, Jonathan Cable, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Pantheon, Reserve Bank of India, That's, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, Asia

☆ Bank of England to leave rates on hold through mid-2024, cut in Q3
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Shaloo Shrivastava | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A pedestrian walks past the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, September 25, 2023. Last week, the Bank surprised markets by not raising rates, sending sterling to a six-month low, but signalled rates would remain higher for longer. Still, over 40% of economists, 15 of 37, who answered an extra question said the BoE should hike rates again this year. Sixteen economists predicted Bank Rate at 5.00% in the third quarter, 10 forecast 4.75%, six said 4.50%, one expected 4.25% and one 3.75%. The European Central Bank was predicted to cut rates in the third quarter next year but the Federal Reserve might start in the second quarter, separate Reuters polls showed.

Persons: Hollie Adams, The BoE, BoE, James Smith, James Rossiter, Shaloo Shrivastava, Anitta Sunil, Purujit Arun, Jonathan Cable, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, Rights, Bank, Monetary, The, ING Financial Markets, TD Securities, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain

REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsMUMBAI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Indian bond markets won't see a jump in volatility in the near-term after JPMorgan (JPM.N) announced India's inclusion in its widely tracked emerging market debt index, BlackRock's head of Asia Pacific fixed income said on Friday. JPMorgan said 23 Indian Government Bonds (IGBs) with a combined notional value of $330 billion were eligible for inclusion in its Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) index and index suite, benchmarked by about $236 billion in global funds. Given the size of the $2 trillion global government bond market, it may add only a little bit to the volatility in Indian bond markets, Seth told the Reuters Global Markets Forum. Foreign investor buying in Indian bonds has remained tepid with net purchases of $3.4 billion so far in 2023. He also pointed to investment-grade credit in Asia and higher quality emerging market bonds, in a "tilt towards quality" as macro uncertainties persist.

Persons: Thomas White, Neeraj Seth, Seth, Divya Chowdhury, Savio Shetty, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, JPMorgan, Asia Pacific, Government, BlackRock, Reuters Global Markets, Thomson Locations: India, Rights MUMBAI, Asia, Mumbai

☆ Global central banks unite in "higher for longer" credo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The so-called "higher for longer" mantra is now the official stance of the U.S. Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and the Bank of England, as well as being echoed by monetary policy-makers from Oslo to Tapei. U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers had a similar message on Wednesday. Turkey's central bank confirmed its hawkish turn while in Asia, Taiwan's central bank flagged continued tight policy. Reuters Graphics"TIPPING POINT"Belgian central bank chief and ECB board member Pierre Wunsch - an early voice urging tougher central bank action to counter inflation from end-2021 - said on Thursday that monetary policy was now at the right level. That said, the prospect that global interest rates are pretty close to peak will be of huge relief to emerging economies suffering from heavy debt servicing loads.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Kazuo Ueda, Ann, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Pierre Wunsch, Wunsch, COVID lockdowns, Jerome, Powell, Krishna Guha, Howard Schneider, Balazs Koranyi, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Kansas City Federal, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of England, U.S . Federal, Swiss National Bank, South African Reserve Bank, People's Bank of, Reuters, ECB, Reuters Global Markets, Economics, Sterling, Swiss, United, Thomson Locations: Jackson Hole , Wyoming, U.S, Central, Oslo, Tapei, Europe, Norway, Sweden, Asia, People's Bank of China, Belgian, United States, Ukraine, Washington, Frankfurt, London, Stockholm, Zurich, Ankara

☆ No strong case for jacking up bank charges: ECB's Wunsch
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 21 (Reuters) - There are no strong arguments for the European Central Bank to increase mandatory reserves for banks, Belgian central bank chief Pierre Wunsch said on Thursday, weighing in on a key debate about a potential move to tighten policy further. The ECB cut to zero the rate it pays to banks on mandatory reserves earlier this year. Some policymakers are now pushing for an increase in the reserve requirement, in part to reduce losses associated with the multi-trillion-euro pool of excess liquidity sloshing around banks. "I don't see any strong argument for using movements in the reserve requirements when we still have this huge portfolio (of bonds) that we can reduce," Wunsch told the Reuters Global Markets Forum. But Wunsch said that reducing central bank losses should not be the objective of monetary policy and changing the rules now could make commercial banks wary of taking part in future stimulus schemes.

Persons: Pierre Wunsch, Wunsch, Banks, Divya Chowdhury, Balazs Koranyi, Jane Merriman, Chizu Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, Reuters Global Markets, Thomson Locations: Belgian, Mumbai

☆ Bank of England to raise Bank Rate to 5.50% in September, significant minority expect further hike: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Shaloo Shrivastava | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Nearly all 65 economists in the Sept. 11-13 Reuters poll expected the BoE to hike its Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% this month, in line with interest rate futures pricing. Survey medians showed the Bank Rate was expected to peak at 5.50%, matching rate futures pricing, and stay there until mid-2024. While 28 economists expected the Bank Rate to peak at 5.75%, two said 6.00%. Nine of 16 gilt-edged Market Makers (GEMMs) that participated in the poll predicted a 5.50% peak rate and seven said 5.75%. A separate Reuters poll showed average house prices in Britain were predicted to fall 4% this year and flatline in 2024 before rising in 2025.

Persons: BoE, Maja Smiejkowska, Ellie Henderson, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, Catherine Mann, Shaloo Shrivastava, Anitta Sunil, Purujit Arun, Maneesh Kumar, Pranoy, Ross Finley, Hari Kishan, Mark Potter Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HSBC, MPC, Royal Institution, Chartered Surveyors, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Investec

☆ Fed to leave rates unchanged on Sept. 20; cut unlikely before Q2 2024: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Prerana Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"While there has been meaningful progress to date on inflation ... the Fed will not be able to take this for granted." Around 70% of those respondents, 62 of 87, had at least one rate cut by the end of next June. Still, all but five of 28 respondents to an extra question said the bigger risk was that the first Fed cut would come later than they currently forecast. A serious economic downturn could justify an earlier rate cut, but that is looking less likely. The economy was expected to expand by 2.0% this year and 0.9% in 2024, according to the poll.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Jerome Powell, Jackson, Brett Ryan, Andrew Hollenhorst, Citi's Hollenhorst, Prerana Bhat, Pranoy Krishna, Rahul Trivedi, Shaloo, Ross Finley, Paul Simao Organizations: Eccles Federal Reserve, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Reserve, Market, Fed, Reuters, Deutsche Bank, Consumer, Index, Citi, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, U.S

☆ Fed to leave rates unchanged on Sept. 20; cut unlikely before Q2 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Prerana Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"While there has been meaningful progress to date on inflation ... the Fed will not be able to take this for granted." Only one said the Fed would cut rates this year. Around 70% of those respondents, 62 of 87, had at least one rate cut by the end of next June. Still, all but five of 28 respondents to an extra question said the bigger risk was that the first Fed cut would come later than they currently forecast. A serious economic downturn could justify an earlier rate cut, but that is looking less likely.

☆ China 2023 GDP growth forecast cut to 5.0%, 4.5% in 2024 - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Vivek Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The primary culprit is the property sector. This source of growth has now evaporated and won't be coming back," said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics in Singapore. The Sept. 4-11 Reuters poll of 76 analysts, based in and outside mainland China, predicted the economy would grow 5.0% this year, lower than 5.5% forecast in a July survey. While recent data showed signs of improvement in the economy, some economists said more policy support was needed for the ailing property sector. A strong majority of economists who answered an additional question said the risks to their 2023 and 2024 GDP growth forecasts were skewed to the downside.

Persons: Julian Evans, Pritchard, Bingnan Ye, Teeuwe Mevissen, Vivek Mishra, Devayani, Anant Chandak, Veronica Khongwir, Jing Wang, Kevin Yao, Ross Finley, Sam Holmes Organizations: Capital Economics, China Merchants Bank, People's Bank of, Rabobank, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, China, Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, People's Bank of China, Netherlands, Bengaluru, Shanghai

Search resuls for: "Reuters Global"

25 mentions found