Gold and silver turn lower after Fed raises rates as expected

On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve increased interest rates by 25 basis points, raising the target range to between 3.75 and 4.00 percent for the first time since 2023. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh emphasized the urgency to address inflation, which has been "too high" and "for too long." He stressed that the decision was a "serious but necessary" one, and that further rate hikes may be required before the end of the year.

President Donald Trump reacted angrily to the decision, accusing the Fed of acting against his wishes with "hostile" motives. He has previously attempted to fire Fed governors and initiate criminal investigations to pressure the central bank into lowering interest rates. The Fed's decision comes amid persistent high inflation, driven by factors such as the Iran war, Trump's tariff policies, and the AI boom.

US households and businesses have suffered from years of higher-than-target inflation, with prices surging due to these factors. The Fed had kept rates steady since January, waiting to assess the impact of energy price shocks from the Iran war and the effects of Trump's tariffs. August's consumer price index came in at 3.4 percent, still significantly above the Fed's two-percent long-term target.

Warsh highlighted the Fed's resilience and its ability to absorb tighter financial conditions. Despite the rate hike, US stock markets initially declined, as anticipated.