financetom
Economy
financetom
/
Economy
/
Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady, Announces Slower-Than-Expected Pace Of Balance Sheet Runoff (UPDATED)
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady, Announces Slower-Than-Expected Pace Of Balance Sheet Runoff (UPDATED)
May 1, 2024 12:06 PM

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional details.

The Federal Reserve opted to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 5.25% to 5.5% Wednesday, as widely expected, reinforcing its commitment to steering the economy toward sustainable growth and controlling inflation.

Regarding the latest inflation dynamics, the Fed stated that "In recent months, there has been a lack of further progress toward the Committee's 2 percent inflation objective."

Furthermore, it noted that “The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee remains highly attentive to inflation risks.”

The Fed said it does not expect it will be appropriate to cut rates until it has gained greater confidence inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%.

The Federal Open Market Committee has outlined a plan to gradually reduce its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt, marking a shift toward normalizing its balance sheet.

Starting in June, the Fed will reduce the monthly redemption cap on Treasury securities from $60 billion to $25 billion while maintaining the cap on agency debt and mortgage-backed securities at $35 billion.

This represents a slower-than-expected pace of reduction in so-called quantitative tightening, as markets participants expected the Fed to shift from $60 billion to $30 billion in its monthly redemption cap on Treasury securities.

Wednesday’s Fed statement indicates that risks to achieving employment and inflation goals ‘have moved toward a better balance over the last year,’ as opposed to the phrasing “are moving into better balance” in the March policy statement.

Market The U.S. dollar index (DXY), as tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF , inched lower minutes after the statement release. Treasury yields inched lower across the board.

Stocks positively reacted, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ( SPY ) shifting from earlier losses to gains, up 0.2% for the day.

Traders now await Fed Chair Jerome Powell‘s remarks due at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Read now: April Jobs Report Preview: Bank Of America Anticipates Solid Payrolls Growth, Rising Wage Pressures

Federal Reserve illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
US industrial production sags in October amid continued drag from Boeing strike, hurricanes
US industrial production sags in October amid continued drag from Boeing strike, hurricanes
Nov 15, 2024
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. industrial production fell for a second straight month in October, continuing to be depressed by hurricanes and a strike by factory workers at Boeing ( BA ), but a rebound is likely in November as the drag from these factors lifts. Industrial output dropped 0.3% last month after a downwardly revised 0.5% decline in September, the...
US retail sales slightly above expectations in October
US retail sales slightly above expectations in October
Nov 15, 2024
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales increased slightly more than expected in October, but underlying momentum in consumer spending appeared to slow at the start of the fourth quarter. Retail sales rose 0.4% last month after an upwardly revised 0.8% advance in September, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales, which...
Fed's Collins says tech changes can improve financial system
Fed's Collins says tech changes can improve financial system
Nov 15, 2024
BOSTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins said Friday the U.S. central bank needs to keep a close watch on technological developments in the financial system. We must all be attuned to the very real risks and challenges resulting from technical innovations, Collins said in the text of a speech for an event at her bank....
Fed has time to see what Trump policies mean for the economy, Powell says
Fed has time to see what Trump policies mean for the economy, Powell says
Nov 14, 2024
(Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Thursday the U.S. central bank has time before it needs to adapt its policymaking thinking due to the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House. I think it's too early to reach judgments here and we don't really know what policies will be put in place, Powell said at...
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved