Just as investors began to worry that another government shutdown could derail more key economic reports, cooler heads prevailed in Washington. Lawmakers reached a temporary funding deal late last week that virtually ensures the Bureau of Labor Statistics will stay open. That means the crucial January jobs report will be released on Friday as scheduled….Read more
Plausible Pause The media tried to pull Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell into the politically hairy topics — including the possibility of him staying on the Fed’s Board of Governors after his chairmanship ends — but he stayed firm in his refusal to comment. No fighting words or juicy headlines to be found here (sigh)….Read more
Get ready for what might be the most pivotal week of the first quarter. Front and center is the Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday. The interest rate decision itself isn’t a close call – market pricing indicates only 5% odds of a rate cut – but investors will get an update on the economy and…Read more
