interest rate

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What It Means If the Fed Cuts Rates This Afternoon
The Fed Just Made
a Major Reversal
the rundown

The Fed Just Made a Major Reversal

Cuts key interest rate by a quarter-point

(Newser) - As expected, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its key interest rate for the first time since December 2008. The benchmark short-term rate was lowered by a quarter-point to a range of 2% to 2.25%, the AP reports. The Fed also repeated a pledge to "act as appropriate...

Fed Chief Indicates We're In for a Rate Cut

Possibly as soon as the July meeting

(Newser) - The S&P 500 crossed the 3,000 threshold for the first time ever Wednesday, as expectations for a July rate cut rise, reports CNBC . Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that "many" Fed officials believe a weakening global economy and rising trade tensions have strengthened the case...

Fed Drops the Word 'Patient' From Its Statement

Some say that could suggest the Fed is now inclined to begin cutting rates

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday but signaled that it's prepared to start cutting rates if needed to protect the US economy from trade conflicts and other threats. The Fed kept its benchmark rate—which influences many consumer and business loans—in a range of...

Why It's Possible the Fed's Next Rate Change Is a Cut

Inflation isn't where the Fed likes it to be

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday and signaled that no rate hikes are likely in coming months amid signs of renewed economic health but unusually low inflation. The Fed left its benchmark rate—which influences many consumer and business loans—in a range of 2.25%...

Fed Ends 2018 With a 4th Rate Hike
Fed Ends 2018
With a 4th Rate Hike

Fed Ends 2018 With a 4th Rate Hike

But it signals there will be fewer coming down the pike

(Newser) - The finally tally for 2018 will be four interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, but the 2019 count will likely be half of that. The Fed on Wednesday announced a quarter-point increase for its key interest rate to a range of 2.25% to 2.5%. That's the highest...

The Markets Like What Fed Chair Powell Has to Say

Seemed to suggest Federal Reserve could pause interest rate hikes next year

(Newser) - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell cast a bright picture of the US economy Wednesday and appeared to suggest that the Fed might consider a pause in its interest rate hikes next year to assess the impact of its credit tightening. Powell's comments ignited a rally on Wall Street, with...

Fed Again Hikes Interest Rates
Fed Again Hikes
Interest Rates

Fed Again Hikes Interest Rates

And marks the end of 'accommodative' policy era

(Newser) - Federal Reserve officials voted Wednesday to raise a key, short term interest rate for the third time this year, the AP reports. Investors largely expected an increase in the federal funds rate—the interest that banks charge each other—based off public statements by Fed officials. The benchmark overnight lending...

Fed Keeps Key Interest Rate Unchanged

Signals future rate hikes

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday left its benchmark interest rate unchanged while signaling further gradual rate hikes in the months ahead as long as the economy stays healthy, the AP reports. The Fed's widely expected decision kept the central bank's key short-term rate at 1.75% to 2%—...

Fed Lifts Interest Rates, Expects 3.6% Unemployment

Fed: US economy has strengthened considerably since the 2007-2008 recession and is in 'great shape'

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve has hiked the short-term interest rate a quarter of a percentage point, to a range of 1.75% to 2%, and suggested that two more increases are likely to occur this year, for a total of four in 2018, reports CNBC . The rate is closely tied to...

Interest Rates Hit a Milestone for First Time Since 2008

Fed signals belief in strong economy

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve signaled confidence in a strong economy Wednesday with its second interest rate hike of 2017, bringing its benchmark rate up a quarter-point to push it over 1% for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis. The move, which brings the range to between 1% and 1....

The Fed Likely to Raise Interest Rates This Month

Janet Yellen signaled as much in a speech Friday

(Newser) - Janet Yellen signaled Friday that the Fed will likely resume raising interest rates later this month to reflect a strengthening job market and inflation edging toward the central bank's 2% target rate, the AP reports. The Federal Reserve chair also said that the Fed expects steady economic improvement to...

Yellen Could Stay Mum on One Big Question Today

Congress sure to ask about Fed's possible reaction to Trump's economic plan

(Newser) - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen faces two tasks when she delivers her semiannual testimony to Congress starting Tuesday: As always, she'll sketch a picture of how she expects the economy to fare in coming months and how the Fed's interest rate policy may unfold. (In December, the Fed...

Fed Hints at Upcoming Rate Hike
Fed Hints at
Upcoming Rate Hike

Fed Hints at Upcoming Rate Hike

But leaves interest rates unchanged for now

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve is leaving interest rates unchanged just days before Americans choose a new president, but hints again that it will likely raise rates at an upcoming meeting, the AP reports. The Fed says that the case for rate hike has "continued to strengthen" but that the panel...

Fed Keeps Key Interest Rate Unchanged

But hints at rate increase before end of year

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve is keeping a key interest rate unchanged but sending a strong signal that it will likely boost rates before the end of the year, the AP reports. The Fed said in a statement Wednesday that the US job market has continued to strengthen and economic activity has...

Rate Debate Reaches Fever Pitch Ahead of Fed Meeting

Chair Janet Yellen has said there's a strong case for a rate hike—but pushback continues

(Newser) - "Let's get on with it already." That's the opinion of one investment strategist ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day rate meeting starting Tuesday, calling for Chair Janet Yellen to push for a rate increase that many are still wary of implementing. Per Reuters , a good...

Can You Pass a Basic Test on Finances? Probably Not

The vast majority of Americans answered barely half of the questions correctly

(Newser) - When it comes to finances, Americans are doing generally better than during the recession. But when it comes to financial literacy, the picture is grim. According to a new survey of 27,564 Americans called the National Financial Capability Study that was put out by the FINRA Foundation , roughly two-thirds...

Brexit, Jobs Report Sink Likelihood of Fed Rate Hike

Interest rate may not go up until at least December

(Newser) - Experts say the US Federal Reserve may wait until after Britain votes on whether it will leave the European Union before it raises the interest rate, Reuters reports. The Fed is meeting June 14, but the so-called Brexit vote isn't until June 23. If Britain leaves the EU, it...

Yellen: Fed's Rate Increase Is Defensive

She explains Fed's big move

(Newser) - After the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade , Fed Chair Janet Yellen stressed that the 0.25% rate hike was pre-emptive. Inflation still remains well below the central bank's 2% target, largely because of transitory factors such as falling oil prices. Yet...

Low Inflation Puzzles Fed as a Big Move Looms

2% target elusive, but it's not expected to deter Janet Yellen

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve is expected to raise its interest rates for the first time since 2006 when it meets this week, but some economists would like it to figure out just what is going on with inflation first. The central bank's target of 5% unemployment has been reached, but...

Janet Yellen Offers More Evidence of a Strong US Economy

Fed could raise its interest rate for first time in years

(Newser) - It's becoming more and more likely the Federal Reserve will raise its interest rates this month for the first time in nearly a decade, USA Today reports. The economy has already hit the Fed's goal of 5% unemployment and is closing in on its goal of 2% inflation,...

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