Why the U.S. intervened to support the Japanese yen

Why the U.S. intervened to support the Japanese yen

The U.S. and Japan have taken the rare step of intervening together in the currency market, buying yen after the battered currency’s prolonged decline against the U.S. dollar. Sharp movements in the yen can affect Japanese demand for American assets, the cost of hedging dollar investments and conditions in the Treasury market. The move followed…

Kevin Warsh’s Fed faces its first real rate-hike test

Kevin Warsh’s Fed faces its first real rate-hike test

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh could deliver a major surprise today as policymakers conclude their two-day meeting. While most economists expect the Fed to keep its benchmark rate at 3.5%–3.75%, stubborn inflation and renewed energy-price pressures have put a quarter-point hike firmly back on the table. The Fed funds rate chart shows how quickly policy…