Fed Raises Rates
September 18, 2026 The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the federal funds target range by a quarter point on Wednesday, to 3.75% to 4.00%, its first increase in three years, on a unanimous vote. The statement called inflation elevated and said the move supports a timelier return to the Committee’s 2% inflation target. The […]
Fed Faces Tough Rate Decision
September 11, 2026 Inflation data took center stage this week ahead of next Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and interest rate decision. Bond yields rose sharply, driven by higher oil prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, and investor disappointment following the U.S. Treasury’s recently announced increase in purchases of longer-dated government securities. […]
Jobs Data Shifts Fed Outlook
September 4, 2026 The prior week’s Jackson Hole keynote by new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh struck a more hawkish tone for markets attempting to determine if this week’s data provided greater clarity for the direction of monetary policy. The August employment report showed nonfarm payrolls rose 162,000, nearly three times the 55,000 consensus, with […]
Fed Signals Patience
August 28, 2026 Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh delivered his first Jackson Hole address this morning, placing inflation firmly at the center of monetary policy without committing to specific action at the September meeting. He established a high bar for further easing, emphasizing that the Committee needs clear and sustained evidence that underlying inflation is moving toward […]
Strong Economy Keeps Rates Elevated
August 21, 2026 It was a relatively light week for economic data but intra-day market volatility for fixed income investors remains elevated. The hyperscaler and artificial intelligence (AI) build out continues to garner much attention, and the overall economy is benefitting from the large spending projects being implemented. Notably, regional manufacturing activity was strong in […]
Geopolitical Risks Drive Market Focus
August 14, 2026 Tension in the Middle East was a persistent theme this week. Negotiations between the US and Iran remained at a stalemate while attacks resumed in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, pushing gold and crude oil prices higher. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading around $82 per barrel as of […]
Labor Market Softens
August 7, 2026 The July employment report was the week’s dominant story as U.S. employers unexpectedly cut jobs during the month, the first monthly payroll decline in months and a sharp miss against what economists had expected. Meanwhile, oil prices fell as reported progress toward a Strait of Hormuz shipping agreement between Iran and Oman […]
Fed Holds Amid Mixed Signals
This week included the much-anticipated Federal Open Market Committee meeting concluding on July 29th. The Federal Reserve held its policy rate at 3.5%-3.75%, with three officials dissenting in favor of a quarter-point hike. The official press release announcing the decision was abbreviated, highlighted strong productivity growth and capital investment, and noted the impact of energy […]
Treasury Yields Rise on Data
July 24th, 2026 A renewed climb in oil prices and firm economic data pushed U.S. Treasury yields to fresh highs this week. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil moved higher as the ongoing conflict with Iran kept pressure on energy markets, while the July flash Purchasing Managers’ Indexes (PMIs) and a sharp drop in weekly […]
Core Inflation Shows Moderation
July 17th, 2026 The week’s marquee economic data releases showed inflation cooling more than expected in June. Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined 0.4% on the month and eased to 3.5% year-over-year from 4.2%, while core CPI, excluding food and energy, was essentially flat on the month and slowed to 2.6% year-over-year, both below consensus. […]