The latest minutes from the Federal Reserve's September meeting suggest policymakers are leaning toward further rate cuts this year. While most officials backed the quarter-point reduction, the discussion reflected growing concern about labour market risks and a more balanced inflation outlook. The tone overall was cautious but pointed to a continued easing bias. Most participants judged it would likely be appropriate to ease policy further over the remainder of 2025. Some participants noted financial conditions suggested policy may not be particularly restrictive. Those participants...
The Swiss National Bank cut its interest rate by 50 basis points on Thursday, the biggest reduction in almost 10 years as it sought to stay ahead of expected cuts by other central banks and cap the rise of the Swiss franc. The SNB reduced its policy rate from 1.0% to 0.5%, the lowest since November 2022. While markets had predicted the move, more than 85% of economists polled by Reuters had expected a smaller cut of 25 basis points. It is the steepest drop in borrowing costs since the SNB's emergency rate cut in January 2015 when it suddenly quit its minimum exchange rate with the...
Chief Powell participates in a moderated discussion at the New York Times DealBook Summit, in New York. Key Takeaways Independence lets the Fed make decisions for all Americans, not any political party. There is broad support in both parties for an independent Fed; do not think there is risk of losing it. The U.S. economy is in remarkably good shape. Feel very good about where monetary policy is. Do not think appointment of a "shadow" Fed chair is on the table. Feel the same institutional relationships between the Fed and the Treasury will continue under the new...
U.S. consumer spending increased slightly more than expected in October, suggesting the economy retained much of its solid growth momentum early in the fourth quarter, but progress on lowering inflation appears to have stalled in recent months. The lack of success in bringing inflation back to the Federal Reserve's 2% target, together with the prospect of higher tariffs on imported goods from the incoming Trump administration, could narrow the scope for interest rate cuts from the U.S. central bank next year. The Fed is still widely expected to deliver a third rate cut in December, with...
Federal Reserve officials conveyed optimism that inflation is subsiding and the labor market remains robust, supporting the possibility of further interest rate cuts, though at a measured pace, minutes from November 6-7 meeting showed. Officials noted that monetary policy decisions are contingent on economic trends and cautioned against making premature rate cuts. The volatility in recent data and uncertainty about the neutral interest rate's impact on economic activity made policymaking particularly challenging. Some participants suggested keeping rates at restrictive levels if inflation...
Donald Trump's Republicans are promising to hit the gas next year when they assume full control of the U.S. Congress, with little to stop them from executing the president-elect's promises to slash taxes and reorder the global trade landscape. But the $28 trillion Treasury debt market is flashing a red warning light against adding excessively to a debt load already expanding at a pace of $2 trillion a year. What is yet to be seen is whether these concerns will be enough to slow Republican lawmakers' ambitions or push them to find offsetting savings on a tax break agenda estimated to cost...
President Donald Trump said he would fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors if she does not resign her post over mortgage-fraud accusations from a top...
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained its cash rate at 4.1% during its April meeting, holding borrowing costs unchanged after slashing 25 bps in the February meeting, aligning with market...