Dashing hopes of any immediate move on interest rate cuts, US Federal Reserve policymakers reportedly agreed last month that it would be appropriate to maintain a restrictive stance “for some time”.
Fed members, however, acknowledged that rates were probably at the peak rate and would begin cutting in 2024.
“Participants viewed the policy rate as likely at or near its peak for this tightening cycle,” according to the minutes of the December 12-13 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting released Wednesday, Bloomberg reported.
That said, officials “reaffirmed that it would be appropriate for policy to remain at a restrictive stance for some time until inflation was clearly moving down sustainably.”
The minutes indicated increased optimism among participants about the path of inflation, noting “clear progress.”
The committee expressed a willingness to cut the benchmark lending rate in 2024 should that trend continue, though they gave no indication easing could begin as soon as March, as futures traders expect.
“In their submitted projections, almost all participants indicated that reflecting the improvements in their inflation outlooks, their baseline projections implied that a lower target range for the federal funds rate would be appropriate by the end of 2024,” the minutes said.
At the meeting, central bankers voted unanimously to hold the benchmark lending rate steady in a range of 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent for a third consecutive time.
While the FOMC’s statement left the door open for another hike, officials’ forecasts signaled the end of the most aggressive tightening cycle in a generation.
The quarterly projections implied three interest rate cuts in 2024 – or some 75 basis points of cuts.
Updated outlook leads ignites rally in stocks, bonds
The updated outlook, paired with Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments following the meeting, ignited a rally in stocks and bonds, fueling a broader easing in financial conditions.
Officials’ individual expectations for the federal funds rate at the end of 2024 ranged widely, however.
The Fed’s “dot plot” showed eight officials saw two quarter-point cuts or less, while 11 officials expected three or more.
A tweak to the Fed’s post-meeting statement also highlighted the shift in tone, with officials noting they will monitor a range of data and developments to see if “any” additional policy firming is appropriate.
March expectation
Futures markets have been anticipating the Fed will cut rates six times this year, beginning with a likely quarter-point reduction in March.
Several Fed officials, however, have pushed back against expectations of an imminent policy move in recent weeks.
The FOMC will next meet Jan. 30-31 to discuss policy.
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