FOMC Cuts Funds Rate 25 BP; Strongly Hints at Rate-Cutting Pause

– Powell: After 100 BP of Cuts, Policy Rate Closer to Neutrality – Powell: Now Appropriate to Ease More Cautiously, Slowly By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Three months after it began a decisive easing of monetary policy, the Fed took a tentative step on Wednesday toward slowing or perhaps interrupting that process. Much as […]

Cleveland Fed’s Hammack: FOMC Is Getting Close To Needing to Slow Rate Cuts

– Need to Keep Monetary Policy ‘Modestly Restrictive’ To Reduce Still High Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve is approaching a point where it should “slow the pace” of interest rate reductions, new Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Beth Hammack said Friday. Hammack, a voting member of the Fed’s rate-setting Federal […]

Powell: Fed Can Afford to Be ‘More Cautious’ About Easing Toward ‘Neutral’

– Cites Strong Growth; Low Unemployment; ‘Higher’ Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell strongly suggested Wednesday that he favors a gradual, careful approach to further interest rate reductions. Powell said the Fed is in the process of lowering short-term interest rates to a “more neutral” level but said the […]

Fed Gov. Waller Leans toward Dec. 18 Rate Cut but Allows for Pause

By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said Monday that he is “leaning” toward supporting a quarter percentage point cut in short-term interest rates when the Fed holds its mid-December monetary policy meeting but opened the door to a pause in the monetary easing process if incoming economic data so warrant. […]

FOMC Minutes Don’t Rule Out or Guarantee December Rate Cut

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting earlier this month, published Tuesday, were faithfully in line with Fed Chair Powell’s post-meeting comments, seeing the likelihood of another rate cut in December as in November if the economy and inflation remain on the current path. The portion of the minutes devoted […]

Fed Officials Keep Speaking Cautiously About Cutting Interest Rates Further

– Cook: More Rate Cuts ‘Likely’ but Size, Timing to Depend on Data – Schmid: “It Remains to Be Seen’ How Much Lower Rates Should Go By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve policymakers have continued this week to signal caution on further interest rate reductions. When the Fed’s policymaking Federal Open Market Committee […]

Powell: Fed In No ‘Hurry’ To Keep Cutting Interest Rates

– FOMC Will Proceed ‘Carefully,’ ‘Patiently’ Toward ‘Neutral’ Funds Rate – FOMC May Slow Pace of Easing As It Approaches Neutral Range – Level of Neutrality Uncertain; So Should Move ‘Slowly and Carefully’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell declared Thursday that the Fed is in no “hurry” to keep […]

Fed Officials Voice Caution, Patience about Further Funds Rate Cuts

on suggests to me that the risk of inflation ceasing to converge toward 2%, or moving higher, has risen, while the risk of an unwelcome deterioration in the labor market has remained unchanged or possibly fallen.” “Monetary policy is well positioned,” Musalem continued. “Given current economic conditions and the balance of risks, I believe the […]

FOMC Cuts Funds Rate 25 BP As It ‘Recalibrates’ Policy Rate Closer To ‘Neutral’

– Powell: FOMC Will Move ‘Carefully, Patiently’ To ‘Neutral” Policy Stance By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve continued to ease monetary policy Wednesday, albeit more incrementally, even though inflation remains above target amid relatively strong economic conditions, and even though financial markets have become more optimistic about the economy in wake of […]

FOMC Cuts Expected Quarter Point

WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the text of the Federal Open Market Committee’s policy statement issued Wednesday: Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. Since earlier in the year, labor market conditions have generally eased, and the unemployment rate has moved up but remains low. Inflation has […]