Federal Reserve: Latest News and Analysis

MarketWatch
Forget the stock-market tumble, the Fed made the right move in a wild week
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell helped spark a wild week on Wall Street, but a signal that policymakers have put further rate cuts on pause is looking like the right call after a closely watched inflation indicator and another round of budget brinkmanship on Capitol Hill.
Newsweek
Mortgage Rates 2025: Predictions for Next Year
Based on the Fed's new decision, interest rates are now reduced by a quarter percentage point, moving to a range of 4.25 and 4.5 percent.
MarketWatch
The Fed’s rate cuts were supposed to make borrowing cheaper. So why is it harder than ever to buy a house?
Most recently, right after the Fed’s decision was announced, the 30-year mortgage rate jumped 22 basis points between Tues
Newsweek
Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates by Quarter-Point
The federal funds rate is the target interest rate at which commercial banks borrow and lend their extra reserves to one another overnight. If the federal funds rate continues to decrease, the cost of ...
The Hill
Watch live: Powell gives remarks on expected interest rate cut, Fed’s 2025 outlook
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to hold a briefing Wednesday afternoon as the central bank is set to cut interest rates for a third time. The decision comes as inflation picked up ...
Wall Street Journal
Federal Reserve Cuts Rates: What It Means for Your Money in 2025
Deborah Kearns has more than 15 years of experience in personal finance and is an expert on specializing in real estate, mortgages, estate planning and debt consolidation. Senior editor, Buy Side from ...
CNBC
Fed Chair Powell: I feel very good about where the economy is
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell fields questions from reporters after the central bank announced it had lowered its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point, marking the third consecutive reduction.
Wall Street Journal
December Cut Was a 'Closer Call,' Powell Says
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says that the latest rate cut was a tougher decision given the persistence of inflation. "Today was a closer call, but we decided it was the right call," Powell ...
Reuters
Fed's Powell not ready to say what Trump policies will do to economy
NEW YORK, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday it's too soon to say what President-elect Donald Trump's proposed economic policies will do to the economy and how ...
Wall Street Journal
Transcript: Fed Chief Jerome Powell’s Postmeeting Press Conference
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell discussed the central bank’s decision Wednesday to cut the benchmark federal-funds rate to a range between 4.25% and 4.5%, a two-year low, after the Fed cut rates at its two previous meetings. As for further cuts ...
Reuters
Fed cuts reverse repo rate by wider margin than funds rate target
The Federal Reserve adjusted a key part of its rate control toolkit on Wednesday, lowering the rate it offers on its reverse repo facility by more than it cut the federal funds rate. The Fed said that the reverse repo rate will now stand at 4.
Bloomberg
Powell Signals Fed’s Focus Has Returned Firmly to Inflation
Federal Reserve officials capped 2024 with a third-straight interest-rate cut and a strong signal that inflation concerns are back in the fore.
Reuters
Stocks skid after Fed signals it will slow down its easing
U.S. stocks plunged on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point and the central bank's economic projections signaled a slower pace of cuts next year. According to preliminary data,
CNBC
The Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by another quarter point. Here's what that means for you
The central bank has now shaved a full percentage off its benchmark rate since September. Here's what it means for your borrowing costs.
Reuters
Powell says Fed cannot hold bitcoin, not seeking to change that
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank has no desire to be involved in any government effort to stockpile large amounts of bitcoin.
Reuters
US stocks face headwind from rising yields after Fed signals fewer rate cuts
The rally in U.S. stocks is encountering a fresh hurdle -- a potentially problematic rise in Treasury yields as the Federal Reserve signals fewer interest rate cuts for 2025.
Bloomberg
The Federal Reserve Is Feeling Edgy About Inflation
More importantly, inflation is also proving stubborn. Some argue that the Fed should be willing to tolerate (even if only implicitly, rather than explicitly) inflation being a bit higher for a bit ...
Reuters
Gold hits one-month low after Fed signals slower easing pace in 2025
Gold slipped more than 1% to a one-month low on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered interest rates as expected, but noted it will slow the pace at which borrowing costs fall any further,
Wall Street Journal
Heard on the Street: Trump Is Already Unnerving the Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve’s economic projections and Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference spooked the stock market Wednesday. One undeniable takeaway was concern over the president-elect’s policy proposals,
Reuters
US Federal Reserve Rate Cut: Powell caution about 'further cuts' sent stocks diving
Federal Reserve policymakers projected two quarter-point rate cuts next year. The Dow ended more than 1,100 points lower, marking its longest daily streak of losses since 1974.
Wall Street Journal
December Cut Was a ‘Closer Call,’ Powell Says
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says that the latest rate cut was a tougher decision given the persistence of inflation. "Today was a closer call, but we decided it was the right call," Powell ...
Reuters
Gold drops as US Fed sees slower pace of further cuts in 2025
Gold prices slipped 1% to a near two-week low on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered interest rates as expected, but noted it will slow the pace at which borrowing costs fall any further,
Reuters
Wall Street tumbles as Fed projects slower rate cuts next year
Wall Street closed sharply lower on Wednesday, with the Dow falling over 1,100 points after the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a rate cut as expected but signaled it will ease the pace of further cuts in the coming year.
Reuters
Wall St set for higher open after selloff following Fed's hawkish cut
Wall Street's main indexes were set for a higher open on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve's projections of fewer-than-expected interest rate cuts and higher inflation next year wrong-footed some investors and pummeled U.
Reuters
Oil prices ease 1% to one-week low on weak Chinese, German economic data
Oil prices eased about 1% to a one-week low on Tuesday on demand worries following the release of negative economic news from Germany and China, while investors remained cautious ahead of a U.S.
Wall Street Journal
A Federal Reserve Regulator Who Deserves the Boot
Trump would send a useful message of accountability by removing Michael Barr as Vice Chair for Supervision.
Reuters
Indian shares set for tepid open as Fed policy decision looms
Indian stocks are likely to open flat on Wednesday, as investors remained cautious ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision, which will be closely analyzed for indications of its future rate-cut strategy.
MarketWatch
Investors brace for Federal Reserve's rate cut decision
Stock futures increased on Wednesday morning as investors readied themselves for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rate cuts at 2 p.m. Eastern. Markets are currently pricing in a 95% ...
Reuters
Powell has a long to-do list for his last full year as Fed chief
The Federal Reserve will conclude its final meeting of 2024 on Wednesday, and next year will likely be Fed Chair Jerome Powell's last full one at the helm of the U.S. central bank, with his four-year term due to expire in May of 2026.
Reuters
Fed looks set to tweak reverse repo rate to speed exit of cash
The Federal Reserve appears likely to take a step on Wednesday to nudge cash off its balance sheet as it enters a more uncertain period in what many see as the final months in its effort to draw down ...
Reuters
Jerome Powell has a long to-do list for his last full year as Fed chief
Powell’s more than six years as Fed chief have been consequential, but the coming months could present new challenges as well as an opportunity to close out some unfinished business ...
Reuters
Futures move higher in run-up to Fed rate decision
U.S. stock index futures edged up on Wednesday, as markets eagerly awaited the Federal Reserve's final rate decision of the year and signals on whether policymakers will take a more cautious stance in 2025.
Reuters
Futures inch higher as markets await Fed decision
U.S. stock index futures were higher on Wednesday, as traders waited for the Federal Reserve's final rate decision of the year and signals on whether policymakers will take a more cautious stance in 2025.
Wall Street Journal
Fed Meeting Today: Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Interest-Rate Decision
Follow along for live updates on stocks, bonds and other markets, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite.
Reuters
Oil edges up ahead of US Fed rate decision, 2025 outlook
Oil edged up on Wednesday as a drop in U.S. crude inventories offered some support, although investors stayed cautious ahead of a potential interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve and its projections for 2025.
Reuters
Dollar flat before Fed meeting, 2025 rate outlook in focus
The U.S. dollar held firm on Wednesday before the Federal Reserve policy meeting later in the session which is expected to deliver a hawkish cut, trimming rates but suggesting less monetary easing ahead.
Reuters
Explainer: How would a U.S. bitcoin strategic reserve work?
Bitcoin hit a record high above $107,000 on Monday after President-elect Donald Trump reiterated plans to create a U.S. bitcoin strategic reserve, stoking the enthusiasm of crypto bulls. Here's how the plan could work.
Wall Street Journal
A Question for Jerome Powell: Why Cut Interest Rates Again Now?
Progress against inflation has stalled, and financial conditions hardly seem restrictive.
Reuters
Oil prices in holding pattern ahead of Federal Reserve decision
Oil prices were range-bound in early Asian trading on Tuesday as investors worried about Chinese demand and awaited further market direction from a U.S. interest rate decision due on Wednesday.
Wall Street Journal
Video: What Trump’s Second Presidency Means for the Federal Reserve
Donald Trump wants to have a greater say on interest rates. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos and former Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida discuss how much influence he will have over the [Fed as presid ...
Wall Street Journal
A Question for Jerome Powell: Why Cut Interest Rates Now?
Progress against inflation has stalled, and financial conditions hardly seem restrictive.
MarketWatch
The little-known reason that the Fed will continue to lower rates in 2025
It’s a good bet that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates not only at this week’s meeting but in 2025 as well. That’s because current rates are significantly contractionary, according to sophisticated statistical models that estimate what the real short-term interest rate should be in order to be neither expansionary nor contractionary.
Wall Street Journal
Stock Market Today: Dow Futures Fall; Bitcoin Rallies
Follow along for live updates on stocks, bonds and markets, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite.
Reuters
TSX futures slip ahead of domestic inflation data, Fed meeting
Futures linked to Canada's main stock index nudged lower on Tuesday as oil and gold prices eased, while investors focused on domestic inflation data and the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy ...
MarketWatch
The Fed could make an adjustment this week to keep draining liquidity into next year
Many Fed watchers think the central bank will announce a technical tweak to a second rate that is a key to Wall Street’s financial plumbing.
Bloomberg
The Federal Reserve Should Wait Before Cutting Again
Investors see recent inflation data as a green light for the Federal Reserve to trim another quarter point from the short-term interest rate. When the central bank’s policymakers meet this week, they’d be wise to say: “Not so fast.” Further cuts will probably be needed in 2025, but for now a pause makes more sense.
Wall Street Journal
What Trump’s Second Presidency Means for the Federal Reserve
Donald Trump wants to have a greater say on interest rates. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos and former Fed Vice Chairman Richard Clarida explain how much influence he’ll have over the Federal Reserve as president ...
MarketWatch
Powell likely to address whether inflation is at start of new trend: strategist
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will likely use his press conference this week to address whether inflation may be at the beginning of a new upward trend, according to strategist Jay Woods at ...
Reuters
NY Fed Markets Group chief Neal resigns, will exit bank in March 2025
The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's powerful Markets Group, Michelle Neal, is stepping down and will leave the bank in March 2025, the bank said in a press releaseon Thursday.
The Mirror
Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows pressures eased last month
An inflation measure closely monitored by the Federal Reserve saw a minimal increase last month, indicating a cooling of price pressures following two months of significant gains. The Commerce Department's report on Friday revealed that prices only rose by ...
The Financial Times
Donald Trump’s presidency looms over the Federal Reserve
Donald Trump’s economic plans are hanging over the US Federal Reserve and chair Jay Powell. The central bank lowered interest rates yesterday by a quarter-point, but officials also projected fewer cuts next year as they start to factor in Trump’s proposed economic policies [free to read].
cryptopolitan
Investors only have themselves to blame; Jerome Powell steals the joy of Christmas
US Fed Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made a public statement on Wednesday following the central bank's decision to cut interest rates.
Seeking Alpha
No, Mr. Powell, A Recession Has Not Been Avoided
A warning of an economic downturn despite Powell's optimism, citing yield curve patterns and liquidity issues. Click here to read my take.