Fed’s Dudley ‘’Warns Of Overheating Risks’’

 | Jan 12, 2018 02:55AM ET

US FED’s William Dudley spoke on Thursday at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association in New York. “Over the longer term I am considerably more cautious about the economic outlook,” said Dudley, “Keeping the economy on a sustainable path may become more challenging,” due to the risk of ‘’overheating’’. He made the point that there is a strong case to keep gradually raising rates and that the forecast for 3 rate hikes this year is a reasonable starting point. He said it could go faster or slower depending on data and he wants to achieve 2% inflation before shifting goal higher. He also said that ‘’Tax cuts will come at a cost, pose challenges for Fed.’’ Tax cuts, he said, made him considerably more cautious about the longer-term economic outlook and the cuts give a short-term boost to the economy but pose serious long-term risks. He expects 2.5% to 2.75% GDP growth, inflation hitting 2% in the medium term and unemployment down below 4% in 2018.

Eurozone Industrial Production w.d.a. (YoY) (Nov) was released with a number of 3.2% from a consensus of 3.0% and a prior of 3.7%, revised up to 3.9%. Industrial Production s.a. (MoM) (Nov) was 1.0% v an expected 0.8%, from 0.2% previously, which was revised up to 0.4%. EUR/USD moved marginally lower on the data to 1.19387.