Gold Silver Reports (GSR) – The precious metal has rallied 11% this year, with much of the move occurring in the last several months, as concerns around slowing global growth and U.S.-China trade tensions took hold among investors. It continued to tick up on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he intended to nominate two dovish candidates to the Federal Reserve’s board of governors.
National Government Debt
Fed says Minutes to be Released on Time as Offices Close
The U.S. Federal Reserve said minutes of its January policy meeting would be released on Wednesday as scheduled though its offices in Washington would be closed due to bad weather.
Draghi’s Long Farewell May Delay ECB Guidance move
Gold Silver Reports (GSR) – Some European Central Bank policymakers are reluctant to alter their guidance on interest rates as a move could tie the hands of the bank’s next president many months before an appointment is even made, four sources close to the matter said.
BREXIT PLANS IN 2019
The dollar held at a near three-week high as investors sought the relative safety of the U.S. currency.
U.S. Federal Reserve is Expected to Raise Interest Rates, But may cut the number of hikes in 2019
The central bank is due to announce its decision at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) after its final two-day policy meeting of the year. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to hold a press conference half an hour later.
Fed to Slow 2019 Rate Hikes As Downside Risks Mount, Poll Shows – GSR
They expect the Fed will raise rates by a quarter percentage point at its Dec. 18-19 meeting while dialing back the number of moves next year to two, in March and September, from the three hikes economists saw in September. Median responses in the Dec. 7-11 poll also anticipate one additional hike in mid-2020 when the rate would peak in this tightening cycle at a target range of 3 per cent to 3.25 per cent.
ECB’s Nowotny: We Expect Positive Economic Outlook To Continue But Risks Exist
ECB’s Nowotny: Asked About Latest GDP Figures, Has Not Seen Anything That Would Require An Adjustment Of Monetary Policy Outlook
Five Questions for the ECB
Growing concern about the impact of trade tensions on the economic outlook, another spike in Italian borrowing costs, fraught Brexit talks and volatility in world markets make for a colorful backdrop to Thursday’s European Central Bank meeting.
Euro Slides After Italian Lawmaker Talks Up National Currency – Neal Bhai Reports
The euro fell to a six-week low on Tuesday after a senior lawmaker in one of Italy’s ruling parties said most of the country’s problems would be resolved if it readopted a national currency, triggering a broad market sell-off.
Nikkei Hits 27 Year High on Strong Dollar, Wall Street Gains
Japan’s Nikkei hit a 27-year high on Friday, taking heart from a boost for the dollar after the Federal Reserve chairman said he did not expect a near-term recession, and strong gains on Wall Street overnight.