Federal Reserve signals support for rate rise this year and fewer cuts in 2024. US stock market sees slowest pace of share buybacks since early pandemic. Gideon Rachman's three-part podcast series on Bidenomics. Discussion on impact of share buybacks on share prices and company profits. Controversy surrounding share buybacks and their future. American economic policy and global implications of Biden administration's measures.
Read more
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The Federal Reserve signals support for another rate rise in 2021, but fewer cuts in 2024, reflecting evolving data and risks.
Corporate buybacks in the US have significantly decreased, potentially impacting stock prices and widening the gap between large and small companies.
Deep dives
Federal Reserve pauses interest rate rises
The Federal Reserve has decided to hit the pause button on interest rate rises due to evolving data and risks. However, Chair Jay Powell stated that they are prepared to raise rates further if inflation remains high. The Fed projected one more rate increase before year-end and fewer rate cuts in the coming years. The announcement caused the S&P 500 to fall and the two-year US treasury yield to reach a 17-year high.
Corporate buybacks decline
Corporate buybacks in the US have significantly decreased, with Chair buybacks at their slowest pace since the beginning of the pandemic. Several factors contribute to this decline, including industry-specific issues and pressures to spend on various macroeconomic challenges. Critics argue that buybacks are a form of financial engineering that rewards executives at the expense of real investments or employee pay. While buybacks are not expected to disappear entirely, the downward trend is likely to continue, impacting stock prices and potentially widening the gap between large and small companies.
Bidenomics and its global impact
The Biden administration's economic policies, known as Bidenomics, have become a key focus of his presidency. These policies, including subsidies for green energy and infrastructure, reflect a shift towards interventionist industrial policies. While some Americans are skeptical of the state's involvement in the economy, Bidenomics has also caused concerns globally about protectionism and the future of the world trade system. The series 'Bidenomics' on the Rockman Review podcast explores the impact and implications of these policies through interviews with key figures such as Brian Deese and Ingozia Contreuwela.
Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday signalled support for another rate rise this year and fewer cuts in 2024, share buybacks on the US stock market have dropped to the slowest pace since the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FT’s Gideon Rachman talks about his new three-part podcast series on Bidenomics.
The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Monique Mulima, Monica Lopez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.