Federal Reserve

March 20, 2025 1:11 PM

Fed in no rush to cut rates; Trump disagrees

The Trump administration's initial policies, including extensive import tariffs, appear to have tilted the U.S. economy toward slower growth and at least temporarily higher inflation, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday, drawing the ire of President Donald Trump. Trump posted late on Wednesday on his Truth Social platform: "The Fed would be MUCH better off CUTTING RATES as U.S. Tariffs start to transition (ease!) their way into the economy. Do the right thing." Earlier, i...

December 18, 2024 1:24 PM

Fed expected to combine interest rate cut with hawkish 2025 outlook

The Federal Reserve is expected to lower borrowing costs on Wednesday in what some observers are calling a "hawkish cut" set to be delivered alongside policymakers' updated interest rate outlooks and economic forecasts covering the first months of the incoming Trump administration. The anticipated quarter-percentage-point move would lower the U.S. central bank's benchmark policy rate to the 4.25%-4.50% range, a full percentage point below where it stood in September when it began easing the tig...

November 8, 2024 10:13 AM

US Fed cuts interest rates by 25 points; Powell signals cautious path forward

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday as its policymakers began taking stock of what could become a more complex economic landscape when President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the results of Tuesday's presidential election, which paved the way for a U.S. chief executive who has pledged widespread deportation of immigrants, broad-based tariffs, and tax cuts, would have no "near-term" impact on U.S. monetar...

November 6, 2024 8:26 PM

US stock futures, dollar and bitcoin surge as Trump wins race to White House

Major stock markets around the world rallied on Wednesday, while bitcoin hit a record high and the dollar was set for its biggest one-day jump in four years as Donald Trump was elected U.S. president. Small cap U.S. stocks in particular were boosted by expectations that a Trump presidency would offer tax cuts and support domestic companies. Though bond investors dumped long-dated Treasuries, betting that accompanying tariff hikes would increase the deficit and inflation, causing the Federal Re...

September 19, 2024 10:38 AM

Fed unveils oversized rate cut as it gains ‘greater confidence’ about inflation

The U.S. central bank on Wednesday kicked off an anticipated series of interest rate cuts with a larger-than-usual half-percentage-point reduction that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said was meant to show policymakers' commitment to sustaining a low unemployment rate now that inflation has eased. "We made a good strong start and I am very pleased that we did," Powell said at a press conference after the Fed, noting its increased confidence that the country's bout with high inflation was o...

September 18, 2024 2:14 PM

With Fed’s rate cut at hand, debate swirls over how big a move

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday almost certainly will lower interest rates for the first time in more than four years as the U.S. central bank starts to reverse the restrictive conditions it imposed to beat back inflation, but whether policymakers opt for a half-percentage-point cut or smaller move remains up in the air. Their choice on how they want to kick off a new easing cycle - less than two months before what is expected to be a close U.S. presidential election - likely hinges more on wh...

June 25, 2024 3:11 PM

Global Markets – European stocks fall as Nvidia slump hits tech sector

European stocks fell on Tuesday after a 7% drop in chipmaker Nvidia dragged down U.S. tech companies on Monday, in a sign of nervousness about the artificial intelligence boom. Stock markets remained close to record highs, however, as investors shifted into less flashy names. Bond yields cooled and Japan's yen stayed under pressure. Investors' attention is being pulled in multiple directions, with snap elections in France starting at the weekend; the first U.S. Presidential debate on Thursday;...

June 13, 2024 11:23 AM

Fed leaves rates unchanged, sees only one 2024 cut despite inflation progress

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday and pushed out the start of rate cuts to perhaps as late as December as policymakers sketched out their view of an economy that remains virtually unchanged across its major dimensions for years to come. With growth and unemployment lodged at levels better than the U.S. central bank considers sustainable in the long run, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said policymakers were content to leave rates where they are until the economy sends a clear ...

June 12, 2024 5:35 PM

Fed expected to hold rates steady, project fewer cuts in 2024

The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, with new economic projections from the U.S. central bank's policymakers likely to show fewer rate cuts this year and a delayed start to monetary policy easing. Fed officials will receive a new round of inflation data that could shape their outlook just hours before they conclude their latest two-day meeting and release a fresh policy statement and updated quarterly projections. But with the Fed's efforts to lower i...

May 31, 2024 3:15 PM

Global stocks and dollar idle ahead of Fed’s favourite inflation figure

Global shares were little changed on Friday in subdued trading as investors hunkered down for key U.S inflation figures that will shape the Federal Reserve's thinking on interest rates when it meets mid-June. The dollar was steady against peer currencies ahead of the U.S. inflation data. Oil was slightly weaker after Fed officials said it was too soon to start considering rate cuts, and following a surprise build in U.S. gasoline stocks. The MSCI All Country Stock index was flat at 780.9 poin...