US Fed policymakers lean against October rate hike
The US Fed on Sept 16 raised interest rates for first time in three years.
Two key Federal Reserve policymakers cautioned against rushing to approve a rate hike during their upcoming meeting in late October, causing investors to abandon bets on a rate increase. Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams stated that "there is no need for urgency" in adjusting the current monetary policy. He suggested that another upward adjustment in the policy rate might be appropriate by the end of 2026.
Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Philip Jefferson echoed this sentiment, stating that any future adjustments should be based on careful examination of the data, evolving outlook, and balance of risks. He added that with more data available, the appropriate stance of monetary policy could be discerned better. This cautious stance from the Fed helped erase expectations of a rate hike at the Oct 27-28 FOMC meeting, and now only about a quarter of traders expect a rate hike in October, as opposed to around 70% earlier in the week.
The shift in sentiment was bolstered by data on Sept 30 showing a 3.4% year-over-year increase in the personal consumption expenditures price index in August, which is still higher than the Fed's 2% target but not worse than in July. Experts suggest that the Fed may raise rates only once more in 2026, likely in December.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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