First Pass

19 stories from 4 sources

Central banks turn hawkish as markets absorb new rate risks

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

Asian equities were set to fall and break a three day rally after Wall Street declined, led by a rotation out of technology shares. Investors were repositioning ahead of the first Federal Reserve decision under Chair Kevin Warsh.

6:06 PMBloomberg Markets

Rates options positioning shows a widening split on the Fed’s next moves, with meaningful bets spanning near-term cuts through multiple hike scenarios. The dispersion suggests traders see a higher probability of abrupt policy pivots rather than a single dominant path.

4:30 PMBloomberg Markets

Kevin Warsh is chairing his first Federal Reserve policy meeting with inflation still running well above the central bank’s target. Economists are increasingly pricing a more hawkish reaction function, including a higher probability of additional rate increases or a longer hold at restrictive levels.

12:00 AMFinancial Times

The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 1%. Jane Foley says markets still need clearer evidence the BOJ is not behind the curve on inflation.

7:42 AMBloomberg Markets

Japan has raised interest rates to their highest level in 31 years, continuing a tightening cycle that began in 2024 after years near zero. The move further normalizes Japanese monetary policy after a long era of ultra-low rates.

4:26 AMBBC

The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to 1%, the highest level since 1995. It also said it will stop cutting its monthly bond purchases from next year, signaling a slower pace of balance-sheet normalization.

4:01 AMFinancial Times

Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

The RBA is warning that Australia’s financial system will face more frequent and harder-to-predict shocks as geopolitics reshapes trade, capital flows, and financial linkages. Institutions are being told to improve readiness to respond quickly when stress hits.

9:30 PMBloomberg Markets

Household borrowing is accelerating, pointing to a renewed rise in leverage after a period of balance-sheet repair. The data indicate consumers are leaning more on credit to sustain spending.

4:23 PMBloomberg Markets

The war has reshaped the global economic order, with disruptions that extend beyond energy prices into trade routes, security costs, and cross-border investment. The argument is that economies will not revert to prewar patterns even after the immediate fighting subsides.

12:17 PMThe New York Times

US equity-index futures rose modestly after stocks logged a three-day rally. S&P 500 futures were up 0.1% at 7:40 a.m. in New York.

7:47 AMBloomberg Markets

Emerging-market currencies ticked higher as an interim US-Iran peace deal reduced immediate geopolitical risk. Gains stayed limited as traders positioned cautiously ahead of the Fed policy decision.

5:34 AMBloomberg Markets

Minutes from the Bank of Korea’s May meeting show officials were leaning more hawkish, with inflation risks gaining weight even among some members who voted to hold rates. The discussion signals a broader internal consensus that policy may need to stay tight or tighten further.

4:36 AMBloomberg Markets

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