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Greg Robb
Greg Robb is a senior reporter for MarketWatch in Washington. Follow him on Twitter @grobb2000.
Email Greg at [email protected]
11:43 a.m. Feb. 6, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Banks expect to make corporate loans easier to get, Fed survey finds But commercial real estate is another storyLoan standards to commercial and industrial firms are expected to loosen this year, the Federal Reserve said Monday in its senior loan officer survey. But commercial real estate loans are expected to be tougher to get.
9:39 a.m. Feb. 6, 2017
- By Greg Robb
U.K. speaker says he will not invite Trump to address parliament Speaker cites travel ban in saying he’s against Trump addressThe Speaker of the British House of Commons said he would oppose allowing President Donald Trump to address parliament during an upcoming state visit.
9:25 a.m. Feb. 6, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Dodd-Frank law can survive Trump, former Obama economy adviser says Fiscal policies may be precise opposite of what is needed, Jason Furman says in MarketWatch interviewRegulations may be softened but the key elements of the Dodd-Frank law will survive the Trump administration, said President Obama’s former chief economist Jason Furman in an interview with MarketWatch.
5:45 a.m. Feb. 6, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed’s U.S. employment yardstick rebounds in January Rebound follows stronger job gainsThe Federal Reserve’s in-house tool to track the performance of the labor market rebounded in January after a slowdown in the prior month.
11:39 a.m. Feb. 3, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed’s Evans wants interest-rate hikes rolled out at a ‘slow’ pace San Francisco Fed’s Williams challenges Wall Street view that March off tableChicago Fed President Charles Evans on Friday backed a slow pace of rate increases.
9:49 a.m. Feb. 3, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed's Williams says central bank should not be 'too timid' about raising interest ratesThe Federal Reserve shouldn't be "too timid" or "delay too long" to raise interest rates, said San Francisco Fed President John Williams on Friday. In an interview on Bloomberg TV, Williams challenged the Wall Street view that a rate hike in March is now off the table given the January jobs report. "I don't agree. All our meetings are live," he said. He also disagreed the Fed needed to wait to see details of Trump's fiscal policy legislation before raising rates. "This economy is proving it can grow at a steady rate without as much monetary stimulus as we've been giving," he said. "We actually can make decisions based on that without knowing what happens in terms of fiscal policy later in the year." Williams is not a voting member of the Fed policy-committee this year. The market is pricing in a 9% chance of an interest-rate hike in March compared with an already low 18% probability on Thursday, according to CME Group.
4:36 a.m. Feb. 3, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Here’s how the Fed will interpret the jobs report ‘So-so report’ keeps the Fed nursing a gradualist policy courseThe details of the January jobs data threw cold water on the idea that the Federal Reserve was behind the curve on inflation.
Fed's Evans backs slow pace of interest rate hikes
4:15 a.m. Feb. 3, 2017
Evans sees unemployment rate continuing to decline, hitting 4.25% by 2019
4:15 a.m. Feb. 3, 2017
9:32 a.m. Feb. 2, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed’s participation in overseas regulatory forums is ‘unacceptable,’ leading Republican says Rep. McHenry, No. 2 on House Financial Services panel, calls gatherings ‘secretive’Federal Reserve participation in international forums to craft common regulator standards is unacceptable, a top House Republican said.
8:13 a.m. Feb. 2, 2017
- By Greg Robb
White House denies easing sanctions on RussiaThe Treasury Department is not easing sanctions on Russia, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Thursday. The Treasury Department released a document . But at the daily White House briefing, Spicer said there was a misunderstanding. "We are not easing sanctions," he said. "From what I understand, it is a regular course of action that Treasury does quite often when there are sanctions imposed," he said. Treasury often goes back and makes carveouts for certain products and services, he said. The Russian ruble rallied on the announcement.
11:16 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed holds interest rates as it waits for real economy to match rising confidence Business investment still ‘soft,’ Federal Reserve saysThe Federal Reserve kept its monetary policy unchanged as expected Wednesday and noted that business investment remained soft despite improved sentiment.
6:04 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Raising the debt ceiling is now Trump’s problem Administration gently reminds Congress of March 15 deadlineThe Trump administration gently reminds Congress that the debt ceiling is set to expire on March 15.
4:33 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Yellen may be the foil of the Trump administration But don’t say this within Fed Chairwoman’s earshot Like Mitch McConnell to Barack Obama, Janet Yellen may be the Washington foil of Donald Trump.
4:32 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Q1 GDP may break out of recent sluggish trend But strength not likely to tempt Fed from sidelinesThe U.S. economy may show some strength in the first quarter, breaking out of recent trend of slower perfomance in the first three months of the year, economists said, but that won’t tempt the Fed to raise rates.
4:31 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed to hold interest rates while Congress debates stimulus Uncertainties surround Washington pro-growth policy plans Federal Reserve officials are likely to stand pat on interest rates at their meeting this week, waiting for more clarity on fiscal policy.
4:29 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed has turned more dovish ahead of meeting, analysis finds Data firm Prattle uses automated text analysis for clues on future policy decisionsA novel approach to analyzing Fed communications finds central bank has turned dovish ahead of this week’s policy meeting
4:04 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Private-sector job growth surprises to the upside in January, ADP says ADP reports 246,000 jobs added, well above consensus of 168,000Private sector employment picked up in January as businesses added 246,0000 jobs, well above the 168,000 expected, ADP reported Wednesday.
Private sector adds 246,000 job in January: ADP
3:15 a.m. Feb. 1, 2017
5:47 a.m. Jan. 31, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Senate Democrats blocking votes on Trump cabinet picks Mnuchin, PriceWASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Senate Democrats on Tuesday boycotted scheduled votes in the Senate Finance Committee on Steven Mnuchin, President Donald Trump's pick to head the Treasury Department, and Rep. Tom Price to be health secretary. Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Republican chairman of the Finance Committee, said he was nonplussed by the Democratic boycott. The committee needs at least one Democrat in order to proceed, he said. "We'll just keep trying to get them to come and do their jobs. I'm very disappointed in this type of crap," Hatch said. He said he fully intended continue to push for a vote.
11:58 a.m. Jan. 30, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed exempts 20 regional banks from part of 'stress test'WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The Federal Reserve on Monday exempted 20 regional banks from part of its annual "stress tests," leaving only 13 large financial firms that have to comply. Under the new rule, the regional banks will not have to take part in the "qualitative" review of the strength of their capital planning process. However, these banks will still have to participate in the assessment of their capital adequacy in case of another financial crisis.
9:41 a.m. Jan. 30, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Trump to add CIA director to National Security CouncilWASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - President Donald Trump will add the Mike Pompeo, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to the National Security Council, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday. The CIA chief hasn't been a member of the NSC since 2005 when the director of national intelligence was formed, he said. Over the weekend, Trump was criticized for including his chief strategist Steve Bannon on the NSC's principals committee, while appearing to demote the director of National Intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Some analysts said including Bannon would mix politics with military matters. Spicer said the reports were "utter nonsense" and director of the DNI and the Joint Chiefs chairman could attend principals meetings if they wished.
9:33 a.m. Jan. 26, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Bernanke says Fed shouldn’t rush to sell assets And ultimate total size of sales may not be large, former Fed chief says The U.S. economy is ‘growing into’ the Fed’s $4.5 trillion balance sheet, said former Fed chief Ben Bernanke on Thursday.
9:42 a.m. Jan. 20, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Trump White House sets aggressive 4% U.S. GDP growth benchmark despite warnings Private economists say goal is illusoryThe Trump White House set 4% GDP growth as a benchmark despite warnings from economists that such a goal would prove illusory.
7:28 a.m. Jan. 20, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed likely to start shrinking balance sheet this year: Harker Yellen says passive reduction in bond holdings already equal to two rate hikes this yearThe Federal Reserve is likely to start shrinking its massive balance sheet this year, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker says Friday.
4:12 p.m. Jan. 19, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Yellen not worried about surge of inflation Fed chairwoman eyes gradual rate hikes, says deciding how and when to move ‘will not be easy’Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen on Thursday said that a surge of inflation from an overheated labor market was unlikely.
10:54 a.m. Jan. 19, 2017
- MW Blogs
Mnuchin says he favors strong dollar and raising debt ceiling ‘sooner rather than later’: live blog recapSteven Mnuchin, Donald Trump's nominee to be treasury secretary, told the Senate Finance Committee at his confirmation hearing the strength of the dollar is important and that the debt ceiling should be raised 'sooner rather than later.'
9:01 a.m. Jan. 19, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Trump Treasury pick Mnuchin backs strong dollar Nominee says Trump’s comments were only about short-term woes from the high value of the greenbackSteven Mnuchin, Donald Trump’s Treasury nominee, walks back complaints the president-elect made about the high value of the U.S. currency.
Mnuchin says Trump was only talking 'short-term' when he said dollar was 'too strong'
7:30 a.m. Jan. 19, 2017
Trump's Treasury pick Mnuchin says 'long-term strength' of dollar is important
7:26 a.m. Jan. 19, 2017
6:18 a.m. Jan. 19, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Senate Finance Committee chairman defends Mnuchin against criticism about foreclosures Sharp partisan tone at start of confirmation hearingUtah Republican Orrin Hatch, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, strongly defended
5:19 a.m. Jan. 19, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Philly Fed index jumps to 23.6 in January Index at its highest level since November 2014The Philadelphia Fed’s factory index rose to 23.6 in January from 19.7 in the prior month.
12:25 p.m. Jan. 18, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Yellen says Obama administration never pressured Fed on policy No discussion of what’s ahead Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said Wednesday she was never pressured about interest rates by any Obama White House official.
Yellen sees only 'moderate' risks to financial stability
10:47 a.m. Jan. 18, 2017
9:31 a.m. Jan. 18, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Country music stars ride to rescue of Trump’s inauguration Filling the void left by Hollywood and hip-hopCountry music artists will dominate at President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural festivities, filling the void left by Hollywood and hip-hop.
9:12 a.m. Jan. 18, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Fed’s Beige Book: Prices pressures ‘intensified’ at end of last year Wages also increased modestly, the central bank saidPrice pressures intensified in the last few weeks of 2016, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report released Wednesday.
Fed Beige Book: Growth continued at modest pace across most of country
9:00 a.m. Jan. 18, 2017
Fed Beige Book: Manufacturers report increased sales, a turnaround from early 2016
9:00 a.m. Jan. 18, 2017
Fed Beige Book: Price pressures 'intensified' in last weeks of 2016
9:00 a.m. Jan. 18, 2017
Fed Beige Book: Several districts report disappointing sales over holidays
9:00 a.m. Jan. 18, 2017
