The Federal Reserve is holding its benchmark interest rate steady, extending a reprieve for borrowers after the fastest series of hikes in 40 years. The central bank also indicated it expects three rate cuts in 2024.
The Fed said in its policy statement that it will maintain the federal funds rate in a range of 5.25% to 5.5%, marking the third consecutive pause since July.
Federal Bank officials also signaled the benchmark rate could be cut by a 0.75 percentage point in 2024, according to a chart that documents their projections.
The appropriate level of the federal funds rate will be 4.6% at the end of 2024, the Fed projected, if they hold up, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said during a conference call Dec. 13.
Stocks rose modestly after the Fed's statement. The S&P 500 gaining 0.5% immediately.
Rate cuts would reduce borrowing costs providing relief to consumers who have been slammed by higher costs for all types of loans, from mortgages to credit cards.
"The market is celebrating that the Fed dots moved closer to the market's," Jon Maier, chief investment officer at investment company Global X, was quoted by CBS News. (CBS 12/13/23) Federal Reserve leaves interest rate unchanged, but hints at cuts for 2024 - CBS News
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