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Fed's Waller: Uncertainty over trade, other policies, shouldn't paralyze rate moves

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said his "baseline" view is that the Trump administration's new tariffs will have only a modest impact on prices that the central bank should try to look through in setting monetary policy. Uncertainty about the impact of trade or other administration policies, Waller said, shouldn't stall the Fed from acting if it is otherwise appropriate, just as Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023 did not prevent the Fed from changing interest rates even though both incidents raised doubts about the economic outlook.

RBNZ Set to Deliver Third Half-Point Rate Cut to Revive Economy

(Bloomberg) -- New Zealand’s central bank is set to deliver its third big interest-rate cut in a row and signal further reductions this year to rekindle economic growth.Most Read from BloombergWhy Barcelona Bought the Building That Symbolizes Its Housing CrisisProgressive Portland Plots a ComebackPor qué Barcelona compró el edificio que simboliza su crisis inmobiliariaA Filmmaker’s Surreal Journey Into His Own Private WinnipegHow to Build a Neurodiverse CityThe Reserve Bank will lower the Offici

Fed’s Bowman Sees ‘Troubling Trend’ of Bank Oversight Inaction

(Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman called for less opacity in bank oversight, saying the supervisory and regulatory approach needs updating so it better serves the financial system.Most Read from BloombergWhy Barcelona Bought the Building That Symbolizes Its Housing CrisisProgressive Portland Plots a ComebackPor qué Barcelona compró el edificio que simboliza su crisis inmobiliariaA Filmmaker’s Surreal Journey Into His Own Private WinnipegHow to Build a Neurodiverse City“The

Fed's Bowman: Greater confidence in falling inflation needed before more cuts

Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said on Monday she wanted increased conviction that inflation will decline further this year before lowering interest rates again, particularly given uncertainty around the impact of the Trump administration's new trade and other policies. "I would like to gain greater confidence that progress in lowering inflation will continue as we consider making further adjustments," to a policy rate that the Fed is currently holding steady in the 4.25% to 4.5% range, Bowman said in remarks prepared for delivery to an American Bankers Association conference. The benchmark interest rate "is now in a good place, allowing the committee to be patient and pay closer attention to the inflation data as it evolves," she said, referring to the Fed's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

Fed's Harker supports steady interest rate policy stance for now

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker sounded an upbeat note on the state of the U.S. economy on Monday, and said he saw no reason to change interest rate policy right now as the central bank continued to work to lower inflation levels. “The current data paints a picture of an American economy that continues to function from a position of strength,” Harker said in the text of a speech to be delivered before a group in Nassau, Bahamas. Inflation remains elevated but appears on track to ease over time, amid “resilient” growth and a balanced jobs market, and “these are reasons enough for holding the policy rate steady,” the official said.

Fed’s Harker Favors Holding Rates, Says Policy Still Restrictive

(Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker said monetary policy is well positioned as officials wait for more progress on inflation.Most Read from BloombergWhy Barcelona Bought the Building That Symbolizes Its Housing CrisisProgressive Portland Plots a ComebackPor qué Barcelona compró el edificio que simboliza su crisis inmobiliariaA Filmmaker’s Surreal Journey Into His Own Private WinnipegHow to Build a Neurodiverse CityHarker said policy “remains restrictive”

BOE’s Bailey Warns Economy ‘Static’ Despite Surprise Growth

(Bloomberg) -- Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned that the UK economy is still “static,” pouring cold water over surprisingly strong growth figures at the end of 2024.Most Read from BloombergWhy Barcelona Bought the Building That Symbolizes Its Housing CrisisProgressive Portland Plots a ComebackPor qué Barcelona compró el edificio que simboliza su crisis inmobiliariaA Filmmaker’s Surreal Journey Into His Own Private WinnipegHow to Build a Neurodiverse CityIn an interview on Monday, Ba