It’s here!
…A decade ago, negative interest rates were a theoretical curiosity that economists would discuss almost as a parlor game. Two years ago, it began showing up as an unconventional step that a few small countries considered. Now, it is the stated policy of some of the most powerful global central banks, including the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan.”
http://nyti.ms/1O6S84U
Earth to Starship Enterprise…
http://bv.ms/1ow58fO
Negative interest rates act effectively as a hidden tax funneled directly to banks. They are inherently unhealthy. Currently, they could indicate also a measure of unease among two of the four most powerful central banks. If so, that could well escalate.
What would be a lousy deal for individuals may be logical for big banks and insurance companies
In Japan and much of Europe, central banks have taken businesses and investors through the looking glass.
Like Alice, they find themselves in a world where the old rules of logic have been suspended. Lewis Carroll’s young heroine had to walk backward to move forward, and a bond buyer now has to pay governments for the privilege of lending them money.
TOKYO — The Bank of Japan’s negative interest-rate strategy is clearly designed to keep the yen from strengthening.
TOKYO—Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda said Wednesday the central bank is looking into how a discussion about negative interest rates was leaked to Japan’s Nikkei business daily before the bank made an official announcement.
Thanks to the Bank of Japan – where interest rates are now negative out to eight years – the financial markets now seem to assume that central banks will keep pumping out endless money to help shore up their lackluster economic growth.