Economy
Allianz Advisor El-Erian Predicts Stubborn Inflation Above Fed Target
© Reuters
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Mohamed El-Erian, the chief economic advisor for Allianz (ETR:), provided his insights on the inflation outlook, contrasting with more optimistic views from other financial institutions. El-Erian forecasted a significant drop in inflation rates but cautioned that figures would likely stabilize around 3%, exceeding the Federal Reserve’s goal of 2%. This prediction diverges from Goldman Sachs and similar firms that anticipate sharp disinflation and low recession risks for 2024.
El-Erian attributed the expected persistence of higher inflation rates to supply-side challenges and shifts in business practices brought on by the pandemic. He suggested that these factors could lead to sustained high prices, even as headline inflation had seen a year-on-year increase of 3.7% by September, slightly surpassing the projected 3.6%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was reported at 4.1%.
The Federal Reserve has been actively trying to curb inflation with a series of interest rate hikes since March 2022. However, according to Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, these efforts have not been sufficient, indicating that further actions may be necessary to bring inflation down to desired levels. El-Erian’s comments add to the ongoing debate among economists and policymakers regarding the trajectory of inflation and the effectiveness of monetary policy measures in addressing it.
InvestingPro Insights
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InvestingPro’s real-time data reveals a strong financial position for Allianz, with a market cap of $93.04 billion and a P/E ratio of 10.45 as of Q2 2023. Notably, the company has seen a revenue growth of 2.44% over the last twelve months, further solidifying its robust financial health.
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These insights, combined with more than 11 other tips available on InvestingPro, provide a comprehensive overview of Allianz’s performance and potential in the current economic climate.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
Economy
Russian central bank says it needs months to make sure CPI falling before rate cuts -RBC
© Reuters. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina attends a news conference in Moscow, Russia June 14, 2019. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s central bank will need two to three months to make sure that inflation is steadily declining before taking any decision on interest rate cuts, the bank’s governor Elvira Nabiullina told RBC media on Sunday.
The central bank raised its key interest rate by 100 basis points to 16% earlier in December, hiking for the fifth consecutive meeting in response to stubborn inflation, and suggested that its tightening cycle was nearly over.
Nabiullina said it was not yet clear when exactly the regulator would start cutting rates, however.
“We really need to make sure that inflation is steadily decreasing, that these are not one-off factors that can affect the rate of price growth in a particular month,” she said.
Nabiullina said the bank was taking into account a wide range of indicators but primarily those that “characterize the stability of inflation”.
“This will take two or three months or more – it depends on how much the wide range of indicators that characterize sustainable inflation declines,” she said.
The bank will next convene to set its benchmark rate on Feb. 16.
The governor also said the bank should have started monetary policy tightening earlier than in July, when it embarked on the rate-hiking cycle.
Economy
China identifies second set of projects in $140 billion spending plan
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Workers walk past an under-construction area with completed office towers in the background, in Shenzhen’s Qianhai new district, Guangdong province, China August 25, 2023. REUTERS/David Kirton/File Photo
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s top planning body said on Saturday it had identified a second batch of public investment projects, including flood control and disaster relief programmes, under a bond issuance and investment plan announced in October to boost the economy.
With the latest tranche, China has now earmarked more than 800 billion yuan of its 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) in additional government bond issuance in the fourth quarter, as it focuses on fiscal steps to shore up the flagging economy.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement on Saturday it had identified 9,600 projects with planned investment of more than 560 billion yuan.
China’s economy, the world’s second largest, is struggling to regain its footing post-COVID-19 as policymakers grapple with tepid consumer demand, weak exports, falling foreign investment and a deepening real estate crisis.
The 1 trillion yuan in additional bond issuance will widen China’s 2023 budget deficit ratio to around 3.8 percent from 3 percent, the state-run Xinhua news agency has said.
“Construction of the projects will improve China’s flood control system, emergency response mechanism and disaster relief capabilities, and better protect people’s lives and property, so it is very significant,” the NDRC said.
The agency said it will coordinate with other government bodies to make sure that funds are allocated speedily for investment and that high standards of quality are maintained in project construction.
($1 = 7.1315 renminbi)
Economy
Russian central bank says it needs months to make sure CPI falling before rate cuts -RBC
© Reuters. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina attends a news conference in Moscow, Russia June 14, 2019. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s central bank will need two to three months to make sure that inflation is steadily declining before taking any decision on interest rate cuts, the bank’s governor Elvira Nabiullina told RBC media on Sunday.
The central bank raised its key interest rate by 100 basis points to 16% earlier in December, hiking for the fifth consecutive meeting in response to stubborn inflation, and suggested that its tightening cycle was nearly over.
Nabiullina said it was not yet clear when exactly the regulator would start cutting rates, however.
“We really need to make sure that inflation is steadily decreasing, that these are not one-off factors that can affect the rate of price growth in a particular month,” she said.
Nabiullina said the bank was taking into account a wide range of indicators but primarily those that “characterize the stability of inflation”.
“This will take two or three months or more – it depends on how much the wide range of indicators that characterize sustainable inflation declines,” she said.
The bank will next convene to set its benchmark rate on Feb. 16.
The governor also said the bank should have started monetary policy tightening earlier than in July, when it embarked on the rate-hiking cycle.
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