interest rate

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Fed Confirms Big Move to Tame Inflation

Benchmark interest rate is going up for the first time since 2018

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve, in the first of what is expected to be a series of hikes, is raising its key short-term interest rate by a quarter-point from near zero. The central bank, which is fighting to tame the worst inflation in 40 years, signaled Wednesday that there could be up...

Jobs Report Suggests We're on the Road to Recovery

Employers added 678K new jobs, topping expectations

(Newser) - The monthly jobs figures are out for February, and they signal a return to "something resembling normal," reports the New York Times . A drop in coronavirus cases coincided with strong hiring and increased consumer spending. More:
  • Jobs: Employers added 678,000 jobs in February, topping economists' forecasts for
...

Fed Signals It Will Raise Rates as Soon as March

It will phase out its monthly bond purchases as well

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it plans to begin raising its benchmark interest rate as soon as March, a key step in reversing its pandemic-era low-rate policies that have fueled hiring and growth but also escalated inflation. With high inflation squeezing consumers and businesses and unemployment falling steadily, the...

Fed Chief: We'll Get More Aggressive on Inflation

Jerome Powell tells Congress they'll raise interest rates more if need be

(Newser) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged Tuesday that high inflation has emerged as a serious threat to the Fed's goal of helping put more Americans back to work and that the Fed will raise rates more than it now plans if needed to stem surging prices. "If we...

Dow Passes 33K After Fed Announcement
Dow Passes 33K After
Fed Announcement
MARKETS

Dow Passes 33K After Fed Announcement

Interest rate likely to stay near zero until 2023

(Newser) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 closed at record highs Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it expects its key interest rate to remain near zero through 2023. The central bank’s commitment to keeping rates at rock bottom lows comes even as it forecasts the...

Stocks Jump After Big News From Fed

Interest rates expected to stay near zero until 2022

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it will keep buying bonds to maintain low borrowing rates and support a US economy mired in a deep recession with high unemployment. And it said nearly all its policymakers foresee no rate hikes through 2022. The Fed has cut its benchmark short-term rate...

Fed Indicates It Will Hold Rates Near Zero for Months

Fed will also keep buying Treasury and mortgage bonds

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it will keep its key short-term interest rate near zero for the foreseeable future as part of its extraordinary efforts to bolster an economy that is sinking into its worst crisis since the 1930s. As part of its emergency steps, the Fed said it...

Fed Responds to Coronavirus Outbreak With Big Rate Cut

The benchmark interest rate is reduced to nearly zero

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve took emergency action Sunday and slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to nearly zero and announced it would purchase more Treasury securities to encourage lending to try to offset the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the AP reports. The central bank said the...

Fed Leaves Key Rate Unchanged
Fed Leaves Key Rate Unchanged

Fed Leaves Key Rate Unchanged

Key interest rate remains at 1.5% to 1.75%

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged at a low level Wednesday amid an economy that looks solid but faces potential global threats, including from China’s viral outbreak. The Fed sketched a mostly bright picture of the US economy in the statement it released after its latest...

Fed Doesn't Mess With Rates and Doesn't Expect to in 2020

It removes language about 'uncertainties'

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve had signaled a pause was coming, and on Wednesday that's what we got. Following a series of three rate cuts, the Fed at its December meeting kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at between 1.5% and 1.75%. And should their expectations for the economy...

Sharply Divided Fed Again Reduces Rates

But may not do so again this year

(Newser) - A sharply divided Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year but declined to signal that further rate cuts are likely this year, the AP reports. The Fed's move reduces its key short-term rate—which influences many consumer and business loans—by an...

Trump: Fed 'Boneheads' Need to Try Negative Interest Rates

President is once again criticizing Jerome Powell and his colleagues

(Newser) - President Trump continued his long-running critique of the Federal Reserve Wednesday in a series of tweets blasting his own hand-picked chair, Jerome Powell, and the rest of the "Boneheads" there who, he said, need to be slashing interest rates below zero—a far cry from the comparatively moderate rate...

Trump Slams &#39;Clueless&#39; Fed Chief, &#39;Crazy&#39; Yield Curve
Trump Blasts
'Crazy Inverted
Yield Curve'
THE RUNDOWN

Trump Blasts 'Crazy Inverted Yield Curve'

Economists are split on signs of a recession

(Newser) - President Trump says the American economy is doing magnificently and we are "winning, big time, against China"—but one of the things still holding the economy back is the Federal Reserve chairman he appointed. In a pair of tweets Wednesday, Trump renewed his attacks on Jerome Powell, calling...

What It Means If the Fed Cuts Rates This Afternoon
The Fed Just Made
a Major Reversal
the rundown

The Fed Just Made a Major Reversal

Cuts key interest rate by a quarter-point

(Newser) - As expected, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its key interest rate for the first time since December 2008. The benchmark short-term rate was lowered by a quarter-point to a range of 2% to 2.25%, the AP reports. The Fed also repeated a pledge to "act as appropriate...

Fed Chief Indicates We're In for a Rate Cut

Possibly as soon as the July meeting

(Newser) - The S&P 500 crossed the 3,000 threshold for the first time ever Wednesday, as expectations for a July rate cut rise, reports CNBC . Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that "many" Fed officials believe a weakening global economy and rising trade tensions have strengthened the case...

Fed Drops the Word 'Patient' From Its Statement

Some say that could suggest the Fed is now inclined to begin cutting rates

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday but signaled that it's prepared to start cutting rates if needed to protect the US economy from trade conflicts and other threats. The Fed kept its benchmark rate—which influences many consumer and business loans—in a range of...

Why It's Possible the Fed's Next Rate Change Is a Cut

Inflation isn't where the Fed likes it to be

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday and signaled that no rate hikes are likely in coming months amid signs of renewed economic health but unusually low inflation. The Fed left its benchmark rate—which influences many consumer and business loans—in a range of 2.25%...

Fed Ends 2018 With a 4th Rate Hike
Fed Ends 2018
With a 4th Rate Hike

Fed Ends 2018 With a 4th Rate Hike

But it signals there will be fewer coming down the pike

(Newser) - The finally tally for 2018 will be four interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, but the 2019 count will likely be half of that. The Fed on Wednesday announced a quarter-point increase for its key interest rate to a range of 2.25% to 2.5%. That's the highest...

The Markets Like What Fed Chair Powell Has to Say

Seemed to suggest Federal Reserve could pause interest rate hikes next year

(Newser) - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell cast a bright picture of the US economy Wednesday and appeared to suggest that the Fed might consider a pause in its interest rate hikes next year to assess the impact of its credit tightening. Powell's comments ignited a rally on Wall Street, with...

Fed Again Hikes Interest Rates
Fed Again Hikes
Interest Rates

Fed Again Hikes Interest Rates

And marks the end of 'accommodative' policy era

(Newser) - Federal Reserve officials voted Wednesday to raise a key, short term interest rate for the third time this year, the AP reports. Investors largely expected an increase in the federal funds rate—the interest that banks charge each other—based off public statements by Fed officials. The benchmark overnight lending...

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