EXCHANGE CORNER

Six areas of impact with a COVID-19 vaccine By Blu Putnam, Chief Economist, CME Group What a Vaccine Could Mean for 2021 Downtown business districts might face headwinds post-pandemic. Vaccines could unleash pent-up consumer demand for travel. Commuter rail, transit systems might need financial assistance. Could fresh fiscal and monetary initiatives stir dormant inflation? Read … Read More

Bracing for La Niña and perception of risk dissipates in equities By Blu Putnam, Chief Economist & Erik Norland, Senior Economist, CME Group Bracing for the Onset of La Niña La Niña could impact crop weather in US, Brazil, and Canada. Greater risk of flooding in Australia, likely more typhoons in China. La Niña tends … Read More

Spotlight on labor’s finances and muted inflation By Blu Putnam, Chief Economist & Erik Norland, Senior Economist, CME Group Inflation Conundrum US inflation rate has hovered at around 2% since 1994. Massive quantitative easing since 2008 has failed to stoke inflation. Traditional premium in Treasuries over inflation rate has evaporated. Could quantitative easing during pandemic … Read More

2021 prospects for oil and commodity currencies By Blu Putnam, Chief Economist & Erik Norland, Senior Economist, CME Group Oil Prospects 2021 US air traffic remains sluggish at 60% of pre-pandemic level due to virus. Air travel in Europe constrained by second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks. Will prospect of a vaccine help business travel bounce … Read More

Fed might step up its asset purchases and La Niña looms over Ag markets By Blu Putnam, Chief Economist & Erik Norland, Senior Economist, CME Group Will Fed Step Up Asset Purchases in 2021? Fed narrowed asset purchases from July through September. Fed’s balance sheet held steady in Q3 after massive expansion. Asset purchases might … Read More