Gary Siegel

Uncertainty remains the only constant regarding the coronavirus pandemic, and two Federal Reserve Bank presidents offered positive thoughts, although no definitive answers.

Although there’s still no way to tell how long the COVID-19 shutdown will last, or how much economic damage will result, the Federal Reserve’s speedy descent to the zero lower bound will assist the recovery, according to a report.

Municipal market participants are confused, to say the least, about the Federal Reserve and its ability to buy long-term municipal securities. And there’s a good reason for the puzzlement.

While some economists expect a V-shaped recovery, others say it will not be as sharp as the decline, and it could be years before output rises to pre-coronavirus levels.

Coronavirus-driven job losses are way beyond predicted, and expected to get worse, but most still see a V-shaped recovery.

Incoming data continued to show massive hits from the efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19, with jobless claims doubling and the New York manufacturing sector hitting all-time lows in activity.

Wednesday’s economic data were not as bad as projected, but included just the beginning of the effects of the coronavirus on the economy.

Consumer confidence dropped in March as the economy shut down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but economists expected a larger decline.

While experts predict rates will not stay at zero lower bound as long as after the financial crisis, they don’t see a hike for years.

Consumer sentiment fell in March, with the final reading 89.1, its lowest since October 2016, down from 95.9 in the preliminary read.

Initial jobless claims surged, as expected, hitting an all-time high of a seasonally adjusted 3.283 million in the week ended March 21, as the impacts of the coronavirus-driven closures showed in the numbers, the Labor Department said. The previous high for claims was 695,000 in October 1982.

With the Federal Reserve bringing the target rate down to the zero lower bound, communication takes on a vital role, and, if used properly, can enhance Fed actions.

New home sales were up 14.3% from a year ago, despite a 4.4% decline in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 765,000, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

The Federal Reserve continued its “aggressive” and unprecedented actions to try to stem the economic bleeding caused by reaction and shutdowns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Fed allowing use of munis as collateral in its MMLF program won't fix all the problems caused by COVID-19 and may add issues.

As the Federal Reserve continues trying to keep markets liquid as the stock market sinks, economic data are showing the effects of COVID-19.

With a significant decline in new infections in China, positive news may be ahead, one expert says.

The Federal Open Market Committee lowered the fed funds rate target to between zero and ¼% in an emergency meeting on Sunday, but while analysts say the move was needed, they feel it will take more to offset the effects of COVID-19.

When the Federal Reserve began expanding its balance sheet with quantitative easing, it was seen as an emergency measure. Yet a decade later, the Fed is again in jeopardy of hitting zero lower bound and its balance sheet remains large.

The markets continue to sink on virus fears, as even a 50 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve last week didn’t turn the markets around. The Fed meets again next week and many see more easing, but will those efforts prevent recession?