Federal Reserves leave rates near zero

July 29, 2020 (MLN): The US Fed kept he interest rates unchanged near zero as the FOMC concluded its two day meeting on Wednesday.

The Fed issued a statement on its website “The path of the economy will depend significantly on the course of the virus. The ongoing public health crisis will weigh heavily on economic activity, employment, and inflation in the near term, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term. In light of these developments, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent. The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals.”

The move was widely expected by the market.

The Fed vowed to use all the tools at its disposal including maintaining its bond purchases and other lending and liquidity measures in its response to minimize the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook, including information related to public health, as well as global developments and muted inflation pressures, and will use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy. In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the stance of monetary policy, the Committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective. This assessment will take into account a wide range of information, including measures of labor market conditions, indicators of inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and readings on financial and international developments.” The statement added.

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