Economic Highlights
Brent Oil Brent oil prices decreased by 3.67 % or US$2.84, as prices fell this week. Oil traded on May 17, 2018 at a price of $80.31 per barrel relative to US$77.47 last week. Brent oil began the year at US$68.07 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased week over week, by 1.80% (JMD$2.29).
May 17, 2018 United States: Treasury Yields Hit 3.1%; Customs Talk Roils Pound: Markets Wrap Ten-year U.S. Treasury yields hit 3.1 percent on Thursday, as global markets continue to grapple with the outlook for the world’s largest economy. The pound jumped but then erased the move amid conflicting reports over Britain’s future in the EU
May 16, 2018 BANK OF JAMAICA LOWERS POLICY RATE Bank of Jamaica announces its decision to lower the policy interest rate (the rate offered on overnight deposits with Bank of Jamaica) by 25 basis points to 2.50 per cent. This policy stance reflects the Bank’s assessment of inflation for the next four quarters and beyond.
May 15,2018 United States: As U.S. debt levels soar, euro zone bonds act as alternative Worsening government finances, a fragile currency, rising interest rates and heightened political uncertainty? U.S. Treasury bonds’ status as the world’s ‘risk-free’ asset looks shaky and euro zone debt may offer an alternative. Global investors looking to minimize risk — particularly
May 14, 2018 Net International Reserves- April 2018 Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totaled US$3,106.57 million as at April 2018, reflecting an increase of US$32.00 million relative to the US$3,074.57 million reported as at the end of March 2018 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from an increase in Foreign Assets of US$25.75 million
May 9, 2018 While the number of job openings increased to 6.6 million for March 2018, hires, separations and quits (which is a portion of separation) all recorded little change. In other words, the change that occurred in these items were statistically insignificant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a most recent report,
Brent Oil Brent oil prices decreased by 2.68 % or US$2, as prices fell this week. Oil traded on May 3, 2018 at a price of $72.69 per barrel relative to US$74.69 last week. Brent oil began the year at US$68.07 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased week over week, by 1.04% (JMD$1.32).
May 03,2018 United States: A Rare Treasury Yield-Curve Trade Emerges After Fed Decision The Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision sparked a move in the U.S. yield curve that’s been virtually absent of late. The spread between 5- and 30-year yields widened after the announcement to 33.6 basis points, the highest since April 27. Curve steepening is
May 2, 2018 The Federal Open Market Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent. According to a press release by the Federal Open Market Committee, “the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been rising at a moderate rate. Job gains
May 2, 2018 For the month of March 2018 the euro area unemployment rate remained stable at 8.5% when compared to February 2018, according to the latest report published by Eurostat. However, year over year, unemployment rate fell 0.9% from 9.4% recorded in March 2017. Unemployment is at its lowest in the euro area since
