Summary
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US central bank kicks off easing cycle
Fed’s policy rate lowered to 4.75%-5.00% range
Policymakers see another 50 basis points of cuts in 2024
Fed Governor Bowman dissents; preferred smaller cut
WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) – The U.S. central bank on Wednesday kicked off an anticipated series of interest rate cuts with a larger-than-usual half-percentage-point reduction that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said was meant to show policymakers’ commitment to sustaining a low unemployment rate now that inflation has eased."We made a good strong start and I am very pleased that we did," Powell said at a press conference after the Fed, noting its increased confidence that the country’s bout with high inflation was over, reduced its benchmark policy rate by 50 basis points to the 4.75%-5.00% range. "The logic of this both from an economic standpoint and from a risk management standpoint was clear."So clear in fact that Powell, who has championed policy-by-consensus since becoming Fed chief in 2018, saw the first dissent from a Fed governor since 2005 when Michelle Bowman voted against the decision in favor of a smaller quarter-percentage-point rate cut – evidence some analysts said of his motivation to start the Fed’s easing cycle in a compelling way.Powell called the move a "recalibration" to account for the sharp decline in inflation since last year; he noted that the economy remained strong but the central bank wanted to stay ahead of and stave off any weakening in the job market; analysts saw a […]
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