Following the decision, stocks erased gains, 10-year Treasury yields fell and the dollar bounced off its lows of the day. Investors may have been swayed by the Fed’s generally upbeat analysis and expectation of more rate increases than markets anticipate.
Interest Rates
Fed Does the Right Thing, Ignores Donald Trump
Gold Silver Reports (GSR) – The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate a quarter-point but lowered its projections for future hikes.
Fed is Expected to Raise Interest Rates Wednesday
The Fed is expected to raise interest rates Wednesday by a quarter point, and the pressure is on for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to sound dovish — but not too dovish. Fed officials are also expected to revisit their fed funds rate forecasts and roll back some of the rate hikes expected in the next several years.
Draghi Introduces the GDP and Inflation Outlook for the Euro Area
Despite the slight downgrade, Draghi tried to strike an optimistic tone, saying during the question-and-answer portion of the press conference that drivers of economic growth are still in place.
Powell Says U.S. Labor Market ‘Very Strong’ by Many Measures
Gold Silver Reports (GSR) — “Our economy is currently performing very well overall, with strong job creation and gradually rising wages,’’ Powell said in the text of a speech to be delivered to a housing conference in Washington on Thursday. “In fact, by many national-level measures, our labor market is very strong.’’
India Growth Forecast Cut by Fitch Amid RBI-Government Spat
Economic growth may become a casualty of the tug-of-war between India’s government and its central bank.
As Fed Rethinks Path for Rates, Gold’s Poised to Jump in 2019
Gold may be poised to rally as speculation mounts that the Federal Reserve will hit the pause button on interest rate hikes in 2019.