Gold Silver Reports – Mario Draghi (born 3 September 1947) is an Italian banker and economist who has been governor of the Bank of Italy and succeeded Jean Claude Trichet as President of the European Central Bank starting November 2011. As head of the ECB, which controls short term interest rates, he has more influence over the EUR value than any other person. His comments may determine a short-term positive or negative trend. – Neal Bhai Reports
European Central Bank President Draghi Speaks
Stanley Fischer, the US Fed vice chairman, the other day alluded to the frustration and uncertainty often felt by monetary policy makers when confronted with wild and volatile markets often with a mind of their own. “The world is an uncertain place and all that the monetary policy makers can really be sure of is that what will happen is often different from what we currently expect.” He couldn’t have been more correct.
Last year, around the same time market watchers and investors were agog with anticipation about the first Federal Reserve interest rate hike in eight years. It was expected to happen in March but then got postponed to June. September was to be the month, but it did not happen, and when it finally did, it was December. It was believed that the Fed will follow that up with at least four more rate hikes in 2016 as the US economy strengthened and grew.
the beginning of the year, the markets have been behaving in strange and unpredictable ways. The US dollar which was supposed to strengthen on the back of expectations of four rate hikes, started flagging and fell to a 15-month low against the yen last week. The turmoil in financial markets, Janet Yellen’s guarded statement before the US Congress seem to have convinced investors that market trumoil and a strong dollar is hurting American growth pushing back the prospects for interest rate hikes in the US.
The yen, which was expected to fall against the greenback, is now perceived as a safe haven currency though what Monday’s weak economic data will do to that perception is anybody’s guess. It is worth noting that in 2008-09, when the S&P 500 was falling along with global stock indices in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the yen and the dollar appreciated. This time, though the dollar is falling, and is probably a victim of perceived risks in global economy and markets.