Summary
The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting on March 17-18 is easily the most crucial since the financial crisis. The currents roiling the global economy pit the U.S. recovery against the rest of the world. Can the U.S. sustain its momentum as the rest of the world slides to stagnation or recession? How much importance does the FOMC place on ‘rate normalization’ when inflation is non-threatening and upward wage pressure is always about to materialize but never arrives. Markets expect that the FOMC statement will drop the ‘patient’ characterization of Fed policy, opening the way to for the first Fed Funds rate hike in eight years but essaying no timetable. How will the governors strike the balance between the desire for ‘rate normalization’ the fear of deflating equities, potential damage to the U.S. expansion, and the incoming threats from the world economy? Join us for a thorough examination of Fed policy and options and prepare for a lively exchange of views.Latest Live Videos
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US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.