To The Moon

The US Federal Reserve and a number of its global counterparts will launch a rapid-fire attack on inflation in the coming week as their commitment to bringing consumer prices under control gets ever more resolute. 

Starting the onslaught will be Sweden’s Riksbank on Tuesday, with policy makers anticipated by economists to accelerate tightening with a 75 basis-point move.

That’s just a prelude to the main event, when US officials are expected on Wednesday to raise borrowing costs by the same amount to keep up the pressure on resurgent inflation. After another consumer-price index report topping forecasts, some investors have even bet on a mammoth 100 basis-point hike.

Thursday will see the most widespread action. Central banks in the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan are all expected to raise rates. The focus then shifts to Europe, with hikes of half a point or more predicted from the Swiss National Bank, Norges Bank and the Bank of England. Further south, the South Africa Reserve Bank will continue the efforts with a 75 basis-point move expected, and Egypt may act as well.

“In a busy week for monetary policy, we expect the Fed to hike by 75 basis points and the Bank of England by 50 basis points. Also on next week’s calendar are decisions from the central banks of Japan, Sweden, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia and the Philippines, and an update on loan prime rates from the PBOC.”