Inflation

Economic Indicators

Big banks’ forecasts for growth, rate hikes

And what those forecasts mean for markets

By Staff |March 12, 2018

4 min read

Economic Indicators

How a U.S. trade war could affect markets

With markets attuned to inflation risk and with equity volatility rearing its head, President Trump’s tough talk on trade tariffs isn’t good news. The president has threatened tariffs on aluminum (10%) and steel (25%) imports, with the effect likely being sharply higher domestic metals prices. Douglas Porter, BMO chief economist, estimates in a weekly financial […]

By Staff, with files from The Canadian Press |March 5, 2018

3 min read

Economic Indicators

Tax cuts boost U.S. incomes, but spending increase modest

Americans lifted their spending just 0.2% in January, while their incomes jumped because of last year’s tax cuts. The Commerce Department said Thursday that the modest spending increase followed gains of 0.4% in December and 0.8% in November. Incomes rose 0.4%, boosted by $30 billion in tax cut-related bonuses the government estimates were paid out […]

By Staff, with files from The Associated Press |March 1, 2018

3 min read

Market Insights

When the expansion will end—and how to protect portfolios

Though market volatility in early February motivated plenty of speculation about the cycle’s end, some are willing to put their fears to rest. “Don’t fear the recession reaper this year,” says BMO senior economist Sal Guatieri, in a weekly financial digest. However, at the same time, he has a warning: “Investors would be wise to […]

By Staff |February 26, 2018

4 min read

What the Fed’s outlook means for rates, investing

Federal Reserve officials at their January meeting believed that improving global economic prospects and the effects of recently passed tax cuts had raised the prospect for solid economic growth and for continued interest rate increases in 2018. The minutes of the Fed’s Jan. 30-31 discussions showed that the officials were more optimistic about the economy […]

2 min read

CPI increases in U.S., fuelling inflation fears

U.S. consumer prices, excluding the volatile food and energy categories, rose 0.3% last month. That was the biggest climb in a year and is likely to fan inflation fears in financial markets. The Labor Department says overall consumer prices rose 0.5% in January, the most in four months. Inflation rose 2.1% from a year earlier, […]

3 min read

Fed leaves key rate unchanged at Yellen’s final meeting

The Federal Reserve has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged but signalled that it expects to resume raising rates gradually to reflect a healthy job market and economy. At Janet Yellen’s final meeting as chair Wednesday, the Fed kept its key short-term rate in a still-low range of 1.25% to 1.5%. Yellen led a cautious […]

3 min read

Fixed income investors don’t fear inflation: study

Fixed income investors might be taken by surprise if inflation rears its head this year. That’s because an Invesco study finds that 58% of fixed income investors interviewed aren’t concerned about rising inflation. Although most believe the global economy is on the path to recovery (again, 58%), those interviewed say the recovery isn’t via the […]

By Staff |January 29, 2018

2 min read

Inflation

Big banks’ forecasts for growth, rate hikes

How a U.S. trade war could affect markets

Tax cuts boost U.S. incomes, but spending increase modest

When the expansion will end—and how to protect portfolios

Canada’s underlying inflation rate heating up

What the Fed’s outlook means for rates, investing

CPI increases in U.S., fuelling inflation fears

Is the bull run over for U.S. equities?

Fed leaves key rate unchanged at Yellen’s final meeting

Fixed income investors don’t fear inflation: study