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General

Swiss franc surprise

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 30 NOV 2015
Speculations are that the Swiss National Bank (SNB) could follow up its recent verbal interventions with actual ones ahead of the near certainty that the European Central Bank (ECB) would boost its stimulus programme come 3 December.

December moves

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 27 NOV 2015
The Japanese central bank had been expected to expand its QQE measures as early last month. It hasn't.

Chill

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 26 NOV 2015
Despite the gloomy domestic headlines, indications from which the RBA is directly in charge of - employment and inflation - are not on red alert levels.

Road of no return

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 NOV 2015
Wouldn't "the Committee's credibility" be shot if it goes ahead in December and it later turns out to be a policy mistake?

Spreading the word

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 24 NOV 2015
Data dependence -- mainly its interpretation - is where all the confusion lies.

The Fed could get it wrong

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 23 NOV 2015
What happens if it gets it wrong again this time? What if the Fed under-estimated the impact of a mere 25bps hike on its economy and on the world?

Pepared for "lift-off" watch out for "ceasing"

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 20 NOV 2015
The Fed has ended QE and it is about to lift the fed funds rate but it's balance sheet, while expanding no more, is also not contracting.

No December lift off? Small chance

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 19 NOV 2015
The certainty of a lift-off next month has risen to 72% (fed funds futures pricing) from 70% at the end of last week from 7% last month.

Japan does a double double-dip

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 17 NOV 2015
The economy has slid back into recession with real GDP contracting at an annualised rate of 0.8% in the third quarter that followed a 0.7% decline in the June quarter - that's recession number four or double double-dips since the global financial crisis.

Paris adds to the "why nots" for a December lift-off

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 16 NOV 2015
To be sure, like the Madrid and London bombings, and 9/11, financial markets would regain their composure in no time after the Paris attacks.