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☆ The Fed could cut interest rates as early as the first quarter of 2024. Here are 7 quotes from central bankers that hint at what comes next.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Markets are betting the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates as soon as early 2024. AdvertisementWall Street largely anticipates that the Federal Reserve has finished its interest rate-hiking cycle, and markets are betting central bankers will begin easing policy soon. Tom Barkin, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president, November 29: "If inflation comes down naturally and smoothly, awesome. Mary Daly, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco president, November 30: "I'm not thinking about rate cuts at all right now. John Williams, Federal Reserve Bank of New York president, November 30: "My assessment is that we are at, or near, the peak level of the target range of the federal funds rate."

Persons: Jerome Powell, —, CME's, Christopher Waller, Tom Barkin, Raphael Bostic, Mary Daly, John Williams, Williams Organizations: Federal Reserve, Service, ING, Barclays, Federal Reserve Bank, Richmond, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Federal

☆ Morning Bid: Small caps pick up baton, China rating hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2023. The likes of Microsoft (MSFT.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Nvidia (NVDA.O) and Amazon (AMZN.O) fell back over 1%, pressured by a modest bounceback in U.S. Treasury yields. China's blue-chip stocks slumped to their lowest since February 2019 amid fears of a possible cut to China's sovereign credit rating cut after Moody's outlook reduction. By Mike Dolan, Editing by Bernadette Baum; <a href="mailto:mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com" target="_blank">mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com</a>Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Mike Dolan, Russell, that's, Moody's, Isabel Schnabel, Michael Gibson, Christine Laggard, Mongo, Zero Fox, Bernadette Baum Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Reserve, Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Treasury, Reserve Bank of Australia, Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, Barclays, Qatar, P Global, Federal, Division, Supervision, Financial Innovation, Descartes Systems, Health, Powell Industries, Dave, Buster's Entertainment, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Global, York, Treasuries, Europe

SINGAPORE, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Asian stocks slipped to three-week lows on Tuesday while bonds and the dollar steadied as investors tempered expectations for cuts to U.S. interest rates and waited on U.S. jobs data. The Australian dollar fell 0.5% after the central bank left interest rates on hold, as expected, and emphasised that the future direction rates would depend on data. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) was dragged 1% lower to a three-week trough, mostly thanks to falling chipmaking stocks. Treasuries had come under a little pressure overnight as traders calibrated pretty aggressive pricing for U.S. interest rate cuts. The Reserve Bank of Australia left interest rates on hold and said, as it had a month ago, that future rate settings would depend on data.

Persons: Treasuries, Kim Coghill Organizations: Japan's Nikkei, ANZ, New, Reserve Bank of Australia, Brent, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Tokyo, China

☆ Dollar stems decline after heavy November selloff
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in Chicago on October 18, 2022. The dollar regained some ground on Tuesday and hovered near a one-week high against major peers, while bitcoin extended its momentum on optimism that U.S. regulators could soon approve exchange-traded spot bitcoin funds. The euro , meanwhile, languished near a three-week low hit on Monday and last traded $1.0840, while the dollar index stood near a more than one-week high and was last at 103.59. Analysts say the greenback's move higher was in part due to a reversal of its heavy selloff in recent weeks, which saw the dollar index falling some 3% in November, its steepest monthly decline in a year. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin last stood at $41,873, not far from the previous session's peak of $42,404, its highest level since April 2022.

Persons: bitcoin, Sean Callow, Thierry Wizman, Bitcoin, Nexo, Antoni Trenchev Organizations: U.S, Westpac, Traders, Federal Reserve, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of Locations: Chicago, Asia, Tokyo, Reserve Bank of Australia

☆ Carrying a credit card balance is costing you $1,140 per year — and is about to get much worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

However, credit card balances are especially worrisome because they are going to keep getting worse. That means the average American could be spending $1,140 every year on credit card interest and fees alone. Americans have been accruing a lot of credit card debt at a terrible timeAccording to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans had nearly $1.1 trillion in credit card debt in the third quarter of this year. Credit card interest rates, which had already been at their highest level since the mid-1990s, started soaring even higher. But with credit card debt going through the roof, the blissful spending could come to a screeching halt.

Persons: couldn't, —, Gary Coronado, LendingTree, Ted Rossman, Biden Organizations: Service, SoFi Bank, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Federal Reserve Board, Fed, New York, New York Fed, Consumer Financial, CNN, Household Economics Locations: WalletHub, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, delinquencies

☆ Older Americans explain how they're spending their retirements working in the gig economy as Uber and Lyft drivers to make ends meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Some of these semi-retired workers are gig drivers for companies like Uber and DoorDash. Over half of the missing gig workers were aged 60 or older, and over 40% of them described themselves as "retired." Many of these semi-retired workers are gig drivers for companies like Uber and DoorDash. Business Insider previously spoke with six gig drivers about why they're driving during their retirement and the strategies they're using to make money. As her pay-per-ride declines and the cost of maintenance skyrockets, she's been forced to find other types of gig work.

Persons: Uber, —, boomers, didn't, Robert A, Peterson, John Fleming, Charles Rosenblatt, Jeff Hoenig, he'd, Jeff Hoenig Jeff Hoenig, Wesley Johnson, San Francisco Uber, Johnson, Omar Ford, Omar Ford Omar Ford Ford, he's, Germaine, she's, it's, Bill, Rich Organizations: Service, Hebrew University, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Survey, AARP, The University of Texas, Business, Hertz, Security, North Carolina, BI, Arizona Uber, Uber, Social Locations: Austin, Myrtle Beach , South Carolina, San Francisco, South Florida, New York City, Florida, North, Arizona

☆ Australia's central bank holds rates steady but retains hiking bias
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Two women walk next to the Reserve Bank of Australia headquarters in central Sydney, Australia February 6, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank held interest rates steady on Tuesday as expected, buying it more time to assess the state of the economy and to determine whether further hikes might be needed next year. Wrapping up its December policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept rates at a 12-year high of 4.35%, adding economic data received since November had been broadly in line with expectations. "Holding the cash rate steady at this meeting will allow time to assess the impact of the increases in interest rates on demand, inflation and the labour market," RBA Governor Michele Bullock said. She has since warned that inflation has become increasingly driven by domestic demand, requiring a more "substantial" response from interest rates.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Stella Qiu, Jamie Freed Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ The workplace is transforming because workers want good jobs, not just jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Despite threats to job security such as layoffs, the rise of return-to-office mandates, and the prospect of artificial intelligence taking over jobs, workers have realized what's akin to letting a genie out of the bottle: Their jobs don't have to be just jobs. The push to make jobs back into careers, and good jobs, is just beginning. "And we've also seen just the massive gap between CEO salaries and frontline worker pay." Even so, there's been what Bruno called a "national consciousness raising" around what a quality job is. And thinking toward a future full of quality jobs is a message workers are taking to heart.

Persons: Ingrid Vilorio, She's, Vilorio, It's, Rob Bruno, Bruno, what's, —, Julie Su, Biden, Biden administration's, Su, there's, Zers —, Federal Reserve Banks, Keith Wardrip, Wardrip Organizations: University of Illinois, Workers, Treasury Department, Gallup, United Auto Workers, BI, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Locations: California, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, America, Philadelphia, Atlanta

☆ Morning Bid: RBA holds and the dollar pauses, too
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pedestrians walk past the main entrance to the Reserve Bank of Australia building in central Sydney, Australia, October 3, 2016. The relative U.S. interest rate outlook right now fits the weaker dollar narrative - futures markets are pricing in bigger rate cuts by the Fed next year than by any other major or emerging market central bank. But will the Fed cut rates by 125 basis points next year? Doubts about that prospect have for now put the brakes on dollar selling. Gold , which shot to a record high in Asia's notoriously thin morning hours on Monday, has recoiled sharply.

Persons: David Gray, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Bank, Aussie, Fed, Bank of Japan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Asia, U.S, Europe, Tokyo

☆ I'm a Gen Zer who found my 9-to-5 soul crushing until work-from-home changed my life
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I'm a Gen Zer who worked at my 9-to-5 before the pandemic, and found the schedule soul-crushing. The shift to remote work suddenly meant I had time to cook, exercise, and socialize. AdvertisementThere's been a whole lot of buzz recently about Gen Zers discovering the bleak realities of a 9-to-5 schedule. I graduated college in 2019, and went almost immediately into a 9-to-5 schedule. Like other Gen Zers, I enjoy getting face time with my coworkers, and, honestly, the free food.

Persons: Zer, —, There's, Zers, Herman Melville's, Scrivener, We've, Nick Bloom, Bloom, I'd, They're, It's, that's Organizations: Service, Business, University of West, Federal Reserve Bank of New, of Labor Statistics, Stanford University, Insider Locations: York City, University of West England, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York City, York

A worker is reflected in a wall of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) head office in central Sydney, Australia, March 1, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 5 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. The relative U.S. interest rate outlook right now fits the weaker dollar narrative - futures markets have the Fed cutting rates next year more than any major or emerging market central bank. And even if the Fed does go that far, other central banks are sure to lower their policy rates more than markets are currently predicting. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Tuesday:- Australia interest rate decision- Japan - Tokyo inflation (November)- South Korea inflation (November)By Jamie McGeever Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Michele Bowman's, Philip Lowe, Jamie McGeever, Josie Kao Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Reserve Bank of, Reuters, Bank of Japan, U.S, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Asia, masse, Tokyo

☆ Underlying US inflation pressures eased in October, NY Fed says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Michael S. Derby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A man passes by The Federal Reserve Bank of New York in New York City, U.S., March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Underlying inflation pressures eased in October compared to the prior month, according to a report released on Monday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The bank said that its Multivariate Core Trend (MCT) inflation reading for October stood at 2.6%, from September’s 2.88%. The NY Fed MCT index is designed to measure inflation persistence and how broadly price pressures are changing. The NY Fed MCT reading has tracked a broader retreat in price pressures.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jerome Powell, John Williams, Powell, Williams, Michael S, Mark Porter, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New, REUTERS, NY, New York Fed, Fed, Thomson Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York City, U.S, September’s

☆ Asia markets poised to start December higher, key data due on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Asia-Pacific markets were set to start the final month of this year on a stronger note, with investors awaiting a slew of key economic data Tuesday and inflation readings later this week. Inflation reading for Tokyo will be released Tuesday, which is widely seen as a leading indicator for nationwide trends. South Korea inflation numbers will also be out the same day. The Reserve Bank of Australia will hold its final meeting for the year tomorrow, with economists polled by Reuters expecting the bank to hold rates at 4.35%.

Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters Locations: Asia, Pacific, Tokyo, Korea

☆ How Rising Profits Could Prevent the Economy From Faltering
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Justin Lahart | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Cyclical industries such as manufacturing often drive profit cycles. That makes a comedown for the U.S. economy seem less likely. The Commerce Department on Wednesday reported that before-tax corporate profits rose 1.1% from a year earlier in the third quarter. This compares with a decline of 6% in the second quarter. Exclude the Fed, and corporate profits rose by 6.7% in the third quarter compared with a gain of 1.6% in the second.

Persons: Brian Kaiser Organizations: Bloomberg, Commerce Department, Federal Locations: U.S

☆ Australia's Greens to investigate supermarket 'price gouging'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People walk past a Woolworths supermarket following the easing of restrictions implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sydney, Australia, June 16, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Australia's Greens party said on Sunday it would lead a parliamentary inquiry into "price gouging" by major supermarkets as the country grapples with high costs of living. "It will also assess the rise in essential item prices, the validity of discounts offered, and the inflation of profits during economic hardship," added McKim, accusing supermarkets of "price gouging" during "Australia's cost of living crisis". "Construction costs, energy prices, the cost of logistics and packaging have all risen", the spokesperson said. A Woolworths spokesperson said the company was "working to deliver relief" on grocery bills.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Nick McKim, McKim, Competition Andrew Leigh, Leigh, Sam McKeith, Lincoln Organizations: Woolworths, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's Greens, Greens, Coles, Competition, Labor, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

Dec 4 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. The dollar shed 3% in November, its biggest monthly fall in a year, and last week fell for a third week in a row. Many will argue that the U.S. bond and rates markets have gotten far too carried away, and that the Fed will not ease so quickly and aggressively next year. But Fed policymakers are now in their 'blackout period' ahead of the December 12-13 policy meeting. In stark contrast to the Fed, rates futures markets are barely pricing in any rate cuts from the RBA next year at all.

Persons: Wall, Jerome Powell, Jamie McGeever, Diane Craft Organizations: Treasury, Reuters, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Zealand, Australia, India, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Korea

☆ India's Nifty 50 hits all-time high after upbeat growth data
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Bharath Rajeswaran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The NSE Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) rose as much as 0.52% to 20,238.45, a new record high, while the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN) was up 0.44% at 67,286.16, as of 9:35 a.m. IST. "India's growth outlook remains positive, with various capex initiatives of the government likely to trigger consumption at the bottom of the pyramid," Pramod Gubbi, founder of Marcellus Investment Management, said. India's Nifty and Sensex posted their best month in 2023 in November, aided by the return on foreign portfolio investor (FPI) inflows. India's general elections are due early next year. Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Mrigank DhaniwalaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Gubbi, India's, Sensex, Madhavi Arora, Bharath Rajeswaran, Sonia Cheema Organizations: National Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, NSE, BSE, Reuters, Reserve Bank, Marcellus Investment Management, Wall, Dow Jones, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Indian National Congress, Emkay Global Financial Services, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, U.S, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Bengaluru

"We were an early adopter," said Morgan, who served as past president for Tennessee Jump$tart, an independent affiliate of the national Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, which championed the policy. While financial literacy has long been a priority, the Covid-19 pandemic sparked a wave of state-level legislation nationwide, said Morgan, who also served on the board of the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission. "The work is never done," said Bill Parker, director of the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, which aims to incorporate personal finance into schools "as early as possible." Bill Parker Director of the Tennessee Financial Literacy CommissionThe Commission has outlined priorities in its five-year strategic plan, which has included thought leadership and state-level advocacy for expanded financial literacy programming. Numerous studies have highlighted the benefits of teaching children financial literacy at an early age.

Persons: chris Ryan, Istock, Jackie Morgan, Morgan, We've, there's, Bill Parker, Parker Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's, Tennessee, Tennessee Financial Literacy, U.S, Finance, Council for Economic Education, Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, Tennessee Financial Locations: —, Tennessee, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Nashville, U.S, , Tennessee

☆ Central banks of India, England resolve trade settlement stand-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) logo is seen inside its headquarters in Mumbai, India, April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas//o/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUMBAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The central banks of India and England on Friday signed an agreement on information exchange for settlement of bond trades, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said. In India, bonds are settled through the Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL). The two central banks have also established a framework for the BoE to rely on the Indian central bank's regulatory and supervisory activities, while safeguarding the United Kingdom's financial stability, the RBI said. This meant that European banks had to settle their India-based trades through banks based in other jurisdictions.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, BoE, CCIL, Siddhi Nayak, Jayshree, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Sohini Organizations: Bank of India, REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of India, Clearing Corporation of India, Bank of England, United, European Securities and Markets Authority, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, England

☆ Reserve Bank of New Zealand is concerned about whether inflation will ease fast enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailReserve Bank of New Zealand is concerned about whether inflation will ease fast enoughAdrian Orr, governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, says "our expectation is that inflation will continue to decline in New Zealand. Our concern is … whether it will decline fast enough to ensure that inflation expectations remain anchored."

Persons: Adrian Orr Organizations: Email Reserve Bank of New, Reserve Bank of New Locations: Email Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s new prime minister plans to ban cellphone use in schools and repeal tobacco controls in the ambitious agenda he released Wednesday for his first 100 days in office. Christopher Luxon outlined 49 actions he said his conservative government intended to take over the next three months. Many of the actions in the 100-day plan involve repealing initiatives from the previous liberal government, which had been in office for six years. Political Cartoons View All 1270 ImagesMany of the plans are proving contentious, including the one to repeal tobacco restrictions approved last year by the previous government. Those included requirements for low nicotine levels in cigarettes, fewer retailers and a lifetime ban for youth.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, Luxon, ” Luxon, Critics Organizations: Health Authority Locations: WELLINGTON, New Zealand

☆ New Zealand's central bank defends Maori language use
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Adrian Orr is pictured during an interview at the bank in Wellington, New Zealand, April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Charlotte Greenfield/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand’s central bank chief defended its use of the Maori language in official communications on Wednesday, as the country’s new centre-right government looks to roll back the use of the Indigenous language in the public sector. Central bank governor Adrian Orr said at a media conference following the bank’s monetary policy meeting that it was proud of its Maori name "Te Putea Matua" and would continue to use it in addition to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). Over the past few years, the RBNZ has undergone an overhaul that puts the country's Maori heritage and language at the centre of its operations. The government has not released specific details on the policies and it is unclear whether they would directly impact the central bank.

Persons: Adrian Orr, Charlotte Greenfield, Orr, Christopher Luxon's, Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of New Zealand, REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Labour, New Zealand, prudential, Thomson Locations: Wellington , New Zealand, Central, Te Ao

☆ Australia Oct inflation slows more than expected as goods prices fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

For the month, CPI fell 0.3%, driven by declines in petrol, rent and holiday travel. A closely watched measure of core inflation, the trimmed mean, rose an annual 5.3% in October, easing from 5.4% the previous month. "It's hard to find bad news in Australia's October inflation print," said Harry Murphy Cruise, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. Prices for tradable goods fell 1.6% in October from a month earlier. It also left the door open to further tightening if necessary to meet its annual inflation target of 2-3%.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Harry Murphy Cruise, Jonathan Kearns, Wayne Cole, Stella Qiu, Lincoln, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., Australian Bureau, Statistics, Moody’s, Reserve Bank Board, Reserve Bank of Australia, Challenger, Thomson Locations: Australia

☆ Current policy rate lets Fed be 'nimble' with incoming data, Mester says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Michael S. Derby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Loretta Mester, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, speaks during an interview in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 15, 2017. The central bank's rate policy will need to be "nimble" and "I believe the current level of the (federal) funds rate positions us well to do that." Mester, who will retire from the regional Fed bank next June, spoke two weeks ahead of the Fed's Dec. 12-13 policy meeting. That gathering is widely expected to result in no change in the current 5.25%-5.50% policy rate range. She noted that Fed rate hikes have tightened financial conditions and moderated demand at a time when supply chains have been healing.

Persons: Loretta Mester, Shannon Stapleton, Mester, Mester's, Michael S, Paul Simao Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, REUTERS, Cleveland Federal, Fed, Financial, FOMC, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S, Chicago

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. If this week has so far been strangely listless for Asian markets, that could be about to change suddenly on Thursday as investors brace for a deluge of top-tier economic data and policy events from across the continent. The latest industrial production and retail sales data from both Japan and South Korea are on tap too, all of which could move their respective markets, especially currencies. All else equal, the risks for Asian markets on Thursday may be tilted to the upside, even though stock markets around the world again struggled on Wednesday. South Korea's central bank is expected to keep its base rate on hold at 3.50% and leave it there until at least the middle of next year.

Persons: Kim Hong, That's, Goldman Sachs, Jamie McGeever, Josie Kao Organizations: Korea, South Korean, REUTERS, New Zealand, Bank of Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, India, Japan, U.S, Korea's, Korea

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