Central banks face policy trap as Iran war drives inflation shock just as growth momentum fades

Federal Reserve policymakers are once again confronting a shifting inflation landscape as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East threaten to derail the central bank’s progress toward restoring price stability. For the fifth consecutive year, the Fed’s effort to bring inflation back to its 2% target has been disrupted by external shocks. The pandemic’s ...

The United States has been informed by most of our NATO “Allies” that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East, this, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon. I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of Billions of Dollars per year protecting these same Countries, to be a one way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need. Fortunately, we have decimated Iran’s Military — Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti-Aircraft and Radar is gone and perhaps, most importantly, their Leaders, at virtually every level, are gone, never to threaten us, our Middle Eastern Allies, or the World, again! Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer “need,” or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea. In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP Trump: We no longer need Japan's, Australia's, or South Korea's support.

Traders and economists expect the Fed to hold interest rates in the 3.75-4.00% range with high confidence As of writing, Fed Funds futures traders are pricing in 99% odds of no change to interest rates per CME FedWatch: chart Even looking out over the next couple meetings, traders are pricing in 75%+ odds of no change to rates through June, so interest ...