💥BREAKING:🇺🇸 Federal Reserve official says “rates are high right now, can cut 100 BPS into 2026.”HERE WE GO! 🚀 https://t.co/GcuGJKXLDL ...

>> THIS IS "HORIZONS MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA." OUR TOP STORIES THIS MORNING. MARKETS REMAIN IN WAIT AND SEE MODE AS CENTRAL BANKERS GATHERED IN JACKSON HOLE WITH INVESTORS AWAITING REMARKS FROM FED CHAIRMAN JEROME POWELL. FED GOVERNOR LISA COOK SAYS SHE WILL NOT BE BULLIED INTO STEPPING DOWN AS PRESIDENT TRUMP DEMANDS HER RESIGNATION OVER ALLEGATIONS OF MORTGAGE FRAUD.AND ISRAEL IS DOUBLING ITS ARMY RESERVISTS IN THE WAR AGAINST HAMAS IN GAZA, A SIGN THAT PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR A STEPPED-UP OFFENSIVE DE ...

Asahi Mutual has diverted some of its 2025 investment outlay to domestic notes from foreign bonds as Japan’s interest rates rise to attractive levels https://t.co/3y1I4yhsm9 ...

Federal Reserve Policy & Economic Concerns - The Federal Reserve (Fed) is divided, with concerns about tariffs, inflation, jobs, and the labor market [1] - Tariffs may drive inflation, but also hurt jobs, creating conflicting pressures on the Fed regarding rate cuts [2] - More committee members are concerned about inflation and unemployment, but there were two dissents by governors, indicating unusual circumstances [2] - Fed Chair Powell wants more data and to wait before making decisions, increasing the risk of waiting too long [3] - The market anticipates an easing cycle with multiple rate cuts, and Powell may not be able to control this expectation even with a single cut [5] Bond Market Dynamics - There's a divergence in bond markets, with short-term rates (five years and under) driven by central banks and long-term rates driven by fiscal policy [7] - A buyer strike on 30-year bonds exists due to concerns about fiscal policy, which the Fed likely cannot fix [7] Neutral Rate & Monetary Policy Tightness - The Fed funds rate is slightly higher than the 2-year yield, suggesting a moderately tight monetary policy [11] - The Fed's uncertainty about the neutral rate (estimated at 3%) contributes to its reluctance to act quickly [11][13] - The market has priced in an easing cycle with a terminal rate below the neutral rate, but current policy is somewhat tight because the Fed is unsure of the neutral rate [12][13] Powell's Upcoming Speech - Powell is expected to discuss the Fed's challenges and accomplishments since 2018, as well as the Fed's new 5-year framework [8] - Powell is expected to talk very little about policy for the next few meetings [9] - If Powell opens the door to future policy changes, the market will react significantly [10]

Core Insights - The stock of Opendoor Technologies has experienced significant volatility, recently rising over 500% before cooling off, amid concerns about inflation and leadership changes [11][12] - The current inflation rate in the U.S. is 2.7% as of July 2025, which could impact the housing market and Opendoor's business model [1][10] Company Overview - Opendoor Technologies aims to revolutionize the housing industry with an e-commerce model, allowing users to buy and sell homes online [4] - The company purchases homes, typically in good condition or needing minor repairs, and resells them on its platform [4] Financial Performance - Opendoor operates with slim profit margins, needing to balance competitive home purchase offers with profitable resale prices [5] - The company relies on debt to acquire homes, which incurs interest expenses, complicating its financial sustainability [5] Market Conditions - The housing market is currently slow, primarily due to high mortgage interest rates, which are at 6.5% for 30-year loans [9] - Rising interest rates can significantly increase housing payments, making home purchases less affordable [9] Impact of Inflation - If inflation continues to rise, it may lead the Federal Reserve to maintain or increase the federal funds rate, further complicating the housing market for Opendoor [10][12] - The company has previously faced challenges due to rapid interest rate hikes, resulting in substantial losses on unsold inventory [6] Leadership and Future Outlook - The recent resignation of CEO Carrie Wheeler adds uncertainty to Opendoor's future, as the company is already struggling [11][12] - Investors are advised to be cautious and may want to wait for a new CEO and improved business performance before considering investment [13]

From @WSJopinion: Transforming the Fed would create an opportunity to lower interest rates, save billions of dollars in interest payments and build market confidence in U.S. investments and the dollar, writes @DavidRMalpass https://t.co/excYvYgA7s ...

Argentina’s economy contracted in June for the fourth month this year just before interest rates soared in July, a slight setback for President Javier Milei before the country heads to midterm elections https://t.co/b3IuHA4XYO ...

Fed minutes from the July meeting reveal broad support among governors for holding rates steady, even though two backed a rate cut https://t.co/MnpxfR3R06 ...

Inflation & Monetary Policy - The majority of the Federal Reserve saw inflation risk outweighing employment risk [1] - Several members flagged the risk of inflation expectations becoming unanchored [1] - Some Fed members suggested the current rate may not be far above neutral [1] - The Fed was already seeing some issues with inflation growing at the end of July [3] - The minutes offer support for the idea that the majority on the Fed isn't going to move if a weak employment report is released unless it's very weak [4] Tariffs Impact - Many noted the full effect of tariffs could take some time [4] - Fed economists were looking for about six months to see the pass-through effects of tariffs, say the end of the third quarter, the beginning of the fourth quarter this year [6] - The Trump administration's on-and-off approach to tariffs complicates the timeline [6] - Companies brought in imports early to build inventories, which are now being run down, leading to expected price increases [7][8] - Home Depot indicated they would have to start raising prices [8] Labor Market & Economic Outlook - The official subject of the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium is labor markets in transition [20] - The Fed looks at the unemployment rate as a proxy for US growth [22] - The Fed will likely look to the August payrolls report and its impact on the unemployment rate [22] Fed Independence & Political Pressure - Allegations against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook have emerged, with calls for her resignation [10][11] - Removing Lisa Cook wouldn't significantly impact the president's goal of lowering interest rates, but it would allow him to appoint someone more sympathetic to low rates [13] - There are concerns about the Trump administration's efforts to influence public opinion and potentially weaponize the government against Democrats [11][16] - The Fed is independent, at least in terms of the way it acts, and is biased only towards what the economy is telling them to do [26][27]

💥BREAKING:🇺🇸 Morgan Stanley says the Fed won't cut rates this year. https://t.co/1iOMGLF0gA ...