ECB Hints at Future Rate Cuts, Distances Policy from U.S. Federal Reserve
Published: Thursday, 11 April 2024 04:44 | 
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Despite maintaining steady interest rates for the fifth consecutive meeting, the European Central Bank (ECB) signaled potential forthcoming rate cuts if inflation trends toward their 2% target. ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasized the independence of the euro area's economic policy from the U.S., following intense speculation about how recent U.S. inflation figures might influence the Federal Reserve. This declaration marks the ECB’s clearest hint yet at a possible shift in monetary policy amid differing economic trajectories between the euro area and the U.S.
Supercore Inflation Surge Signals Tough Road Ahead for Fed
Published: Thursday, 11 April 2024 04:32 | |
| Recent data reveals a concerning trend in the "supercore" inflation measure, a specific gauge focusing on services inflation minus food, energy, and housing costs. This metric surged 4.8% year-over-year in March, and its three-month annualized pace exceeded 8%. The increase is particularly alarming as it includes essential services such as car and housing insurance and property taxes, which are notoriously resistant to downward price adjustments. This suggests that the Federal Reserve faces significant challenges in controlling inflation within these critical sectors.
Police Recover $100,000 in Gold Scam
Published: Thursday, 11 April 2024 04:29 | |
| East Hampton police successfully thwarted a gold scam operation, arresting two men posing as a Homeland Security agent to deceive a local resident. The fraudulent scheme involved convincing the resident they owed a substantial debt payable in gold. Police Chief Dennis Woessner reported that after launching a fraud investigation on April 4, officers conducted an undercover sting at the resident’s home, capturing the suspects during their attempt to collect the gold. More than $100,000 in gold was recovered and returned to the victim.
Silver Up Roughly 18% YTD – Is It Still Undervalued?
Published: Thursday, 11 April 2024 04:09 | |
| Since 1980, the gold/silver ratio has been out of whack. Does it even make sense for modern investors to pay attention to it anymore?
Unexpected Dip in US Jobless Claims Signals Robust Labor Market
Published: Thursday, 11 April 2024 10:11 | |
| The US labor market outperformed expectations last week, with fewer Americans applying for unemployment benefits than anticipated. Despite a backdrop of aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes aiming to cool inflation, initial jobless claims surprisingly fell to 211,000 from an expected 215,000. This decline hints at a persistently tight labor market, albeit with a slight increase in the time it takes for some to find new employment post-layoff.