Thoughts – Insights

* Fed regional banks call for a hike in the discount rate * Fed’s Kocherlakota: “I’m more worried about the downside” for inflation, and “raising the Fed funds rate in 2015 would be inappropriate” * Ahead of today’s ECB, the worry is that “There could be a sellers’ strike”, according to

* After their surprise easing in January, the MAS does nothing in their scheduled semi-annual meeting * Abe adviser Hamada: “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to send a signal that selling of the yen is coming closer to its limit bit by bit” *

* Fed Lacker: “the case for raising rates will remain strong at the June meeting”; regarding weak data: “temporary factors like unseasonable weather” * Fed Kocherlakota: “raising interest rates is going to…drive [the economy] the wrong way” * BOJ Kuroda: “Japan’s economy is expected to continue recovering moderately as a trend” * Bundesbank Tells German…

* The US Treasury semi-annual report urged euro area governments and Tokyo not to rely solely on monetary policy to lift growth * China’s repo rate drops for a 6th week, longest decline since 2009 * FT: “Currency . . . To read this article, please log in or sign up to one of our…

* FOMC Minutes: “several” thought June the right time for lift-off, “others” better to wait longer, “some” want to wait until 2016 * Fedmulls selling short term bonds to trim repo use after any rate * Moody’s warns Brexit is a bigger threat to UK rating