Gordon Johnson of the Wall Street analyst firm GJL Research had few words of comfort for his followers and even fewer of praise for the Federal Reserve once the February import prices data came out on March 25.Specifically, figures showed that import prices in the second month of 2026 rose by 1.3% and export prices by 1.5%, while the expected change for both was at 0.6%. Johnson took particular note of the fact that the increase covers the period before the start of the Iran war, implying dread about how th ...

Forecasters have warned that UK growth could halve this year as already-cautious consumers batten down the hatches and the Bank of England prepares for potential interest-rate hikes https://t.co/TgpobaohYW ...

Gold Market Analysis - Gold's status as a safe haven asset is declining, with spot gold trading around $4,250, and silver, platinum, and palladium all down at least 4% [3] - Gold has dropped approximately 14% since the onset of the Iran conflict, surprising investors who typically view gold as a protective asset during geopolitical tensions [4] - Despite rising tensions in the Middle East, investors are moving away from gold due to soaring oil prices that heighten inflation fears and expectations for aggressive interest rate hikes [5] Berkshire Hathaway Investment - Berkshire Hathaway plans to invest JPY 287.4 billion (approximately $1.8 billion) in Tokio Marine Holdings, acquiring a roughly 2.5% stake in the Japanese insurance firm [8] - The investment will be executed through Berkshire's reinsurance unit, National Indemnity Company, with initial shares coming from Tokio Marine's treasury stock [9] - Future acquisitions of Tokio Marine shares by National Indemnity are expected to occur primarily through open-market purchases, with a cap of 9.9% ownership without board approval [10] Elon Musk's Semiconductor Venture - Elon Musk has announced plans for a new semiconductor venture named "Terafab," to be located in Austin and operated jointly by Tesla and SpaceX [6] - The facility will initially focus on producing lower-power processors for vehicles and higher-performance chips for space-based computing [7] - This initiative aims to reduce Tesla's reliance on external suppliers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung, positioning Texas as a growing hub for chip manufacturing [8]

>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS HORIZONS MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA. TOP STORIES THIS MORNING.ESCALATING THREATS. PRESIDENT TRUMP GIVES IRAN A 48 HOUR DEADLINE TO REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR FACED STRIKES ON ITS POWER PLANTS. TO RUN -- IRAN THREATENS TO COMPLETELY CLOSE THE WATERWAY.BOND'S SELLOFF AS THE WAR RAISES THE RISK OF HIGHER INFLATION, SLOWER GROWTH AND INTEREST RATE HIKES. OIL FLUCTUATES NEAR THE HIGHEST CLOSED SINCE MID-2022 AS TRADERS ASSESS U.S. AND IRANIAN THREATS. THE IEA SAYS THE CURRENT DISRUPTIONS A ...

Central Banks' Interest Rate Decisions - Global central banks are shifting towards interest-rate hikes due to rising oil prices driven by the Iran War, prompting a reevaluation of earlier plans for rate cuts in 2026 [1] - The Federal Reserve, European Central Bank (ECB), and Bank of England (BoE) held interest rates steady recently, with concerns about inflation risks stemming from the Iran War [2][3] Economic Impact and Forecasts - Major brokerages, including Barclays and J.P. Morgan, anticipate that the ECB will raise interest rates as early as April, with further increases expected in June and July [4][5] - Goldman Sachs predicts a cumulative 75 basis-point hike in the ECB's rates, starting with 25 basis-point increases from June, citing upward pressure on energy prices [6] Inflation Concerns - The BoE has indicated that inflation could exceed its 2% target by 2026, leading to a shift in expectations regarding interest rate changes [9][10] - Analysts note that the BoE's decision to hold rates at 3.75% reflects a response to new economic shocks, with policymakers assessing the situation as it unfolds [9]

The threat of an energy crisis drove traders to bet on more interest-rate hikes from the Bank of England and European Central Bank https://t.co/IShdbuHOB3 ...

Poland may consider interest rate hikes only if price pressures return for a longer period than one or two quarters, according to central bank policymaker Gabriela Maslowska https://t.co/2vRbHUw3iG ...

Core Viewpoint - Inflation in Japan's capital has decreased below the central bank's 2% target for the first time in over a year, but this slowdown is not expected to halt further interest rate hikes [1] Group 1 - The inflation rate in Tokyo has cooled, indicating a potential shift in economic conditions [1] - The central bank's target of 2% inflation has not been met, suggesting a change in the inflationary environment [1] - Despite the cooling inflation, the central bank is likely to continue with interest rate increases, reflecting a commitment to monetary policy tightening [1]

Core Insights - Inflation continues to pose challenges for the central bank, indicating that further interest rate hikes are likely in the upcoming months [1] Group 1 - The central bank is facing persistent inflation issues [1] - An increase in interest rates is anticipated to occur repeatedly in the near future [1]

Core Insights - Federal Reserve policymakers largely agreed to maintain interest rates, with a 10-2 vote to keep the federal funds rate in the range of 3.5% to 3.75% despite some calls for cuts [3][8] - The FOMC minutes indicated that several policymakers supported the inclusion of language suggesting potential future rate hikes if inflation remains high [2][4] - Inflation continues to exceed the Fed's 2% target, with the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index showing elevated levels, prompting caution against further rate cuts [3][10] Interest Rate Decisions - The FOMC's decision reflects a consensus on holding rates steady while monitoring inflation trends, with some members advocating for a two-sided approach to future rate adjustments [4][7] - Policymakers expressed that downward adjustments to the federal funds rate could be appropriate if inflation aligns with their expectations [7] Inflation Trends - The PCE inflation rate was reported at 2.8% in November, matching its highest level since October 2023, while core PCE also stood at 2.8% [11] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that core PCE inflation would be slightly above 2% if not for tariff impacts on goods prices [12]