Fed's rate hold: balancing economic strength and inflation concerns

The Federal Reserve opted to maintain its current interest rates in a decision that underscores the ongoing dilemma facing policymakers. They are grappling with the question of whether the current financial conditions are tight enough to control inflation or if the strong economy, surpassing expectations, might need more restraint.

As expected, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the group responsible for setting Fed policies, voted unanimously to maintain interest rates within the 5.25% to 5.50% range. The rate has been in that range since July and is the highest since 2001. This is the second time in a row that the FOMC decided not to raise rates after 11 consecutive increases. The Fed indicated that it will continue to evaluate the need for further policy adjustments, declining to confirm the ending of the current tightening cycle.

The Fed's announcement led to a surge in US stock prices, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experiencing gains.

On the other hand, the US dollar index decreased following this news.

However, when looking at the bigger picture, the index, which measures the dollar's strength against six major currencies, remains strong, with a substantial 7% increase over the past four months. This strength has had implications for other foreign exchange currencies, which have suffered due to the dollar's continuous rise.

Nonetheless, taking a longer-term perspective, the Federal Reserve's rate-hiking campaign – designed to curb inflation – has led to a prolonged downturn in the stock market. The significant rise in bond yields, which have more than tripled since the end of 2021, signifies a decline in the value of existing bonds in the secondary market. This has disrupted equity markets, leading to higher corporate interest expenses. Moreover, elevated rates have impacted American consumers, with mortgage rates reaching a 23-year high of 7.8%. While inflation has moderated from its last-year peak, it still remains above the Fed's 2% target at 3.7% year-over-year.

Some economists express concerns that the country's economic strength might hinder the decrease in inflation, making it difficult to reach the Fed's long-standing 2% target, potentially requiring additional interest rate hikes.

The Federal Reserve's stance keeps the door open for potential interest rate increases in the coming months, with the next policy meeting scheduled for December 12-13. While some in the market anticipate rate cuts next year, Federal Reserve Chair Powell emphasized that such a move is not currently being considered by policymakers.