The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at their January meeting, kept QE infinity open with TALF for open-ended Treasuries, MBS and corporate bonds in amounts needed. Fed will continue to buy paper at current pace of $120B/month of Treasuries and MBS combined. Compare that to $40B/month in QE3.
The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at their January meeting, kept QE infinity open with TALF for open-ended Treasuries, MBS and corporate bonds in amounts needed. Fed will continue to buy paper at current pace of $120B/month of Treasuries and MBS combined. Compare that to $40B/month in QE3.
Federal Reserve FOMC Statement
Federal Reserve Announcement Wednesday 27 January 2021 14:00:00 ET
FOMC Benchmark Interest Rate Target Range UNCH .00-0.25%
Interest Rate On Excess Reserves UNCH .10%
Conference To Follow At 2.30 ET PM With Chairman Powell
Highlights
- Rates unchanged at 0.0-0.25%
- QE will continue at $80B in Treasuries and $40B in MBS per month and repeats it will continue “until substantial further progress has been made”
- Says pace of economic activity and employment has moderated in recent months
- Removes ‘medium term’ from line about ‘considerable risks to economic outlook’
- Repeats that overall financial conditions remain accommodative
- Repeats that “would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee’s goals”
- Vote was unanimous
- Repeats that “Weaker demand and earlier declines in oil prices have been holding down consumer price inflation”
Change From Last Month:
The pace of the recovery in economic activity and employment has moderated in recent months, with weakness concentrated in the sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic Versus in the prior statement: Economic activity and employment have continued to recover but remain well below their levels at the beginning of the year.
January 27 2021 For release at 2:00 p.m.EDT
The full FOMC statement for January 27 2021
The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals.
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world. The pace of the recovery in economic activity and employment has moderated in recent months, with weakness concentrated in the sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic. Weaker demand and earlier declines in oil prices have been holding down consumer price inflation. Overall financial conditions remain accommodative, in part reflecting policy measures to support the economy and the flow of credit to U.S. households and businesses.
The path of the economy will depend significantly on the course of the virus, including progress on vaccinations. The ongoing public health crisis continues to weigh on economic activity, employment, and inflation, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook.
The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. With inflation running persistently below this longer-run goal, the Committee will aim to achieve inflation moderately above 2 percent for some time so that inflation averages 2 percent over time and longer‑term inflation expectations remain well anchored at 2 percent. The Committee expects to maintain an accommodative stance of monetary policy until these outcomes are achieved.
The Committee decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent and expects it will be appropriate to maintain this target range until labor market conditions have reached levels consistent with the Committee’s assessments of maximum employment and inflation has risen to 2 percent and is on track to moderately exceed 2 percent for some time. In addition, the Federal Reserve will continue to increase its holdings of Treasury securities by at least $80 billion per month and of agency mortgage‑backed securities by at least $40 billion per month until substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals. These asset purchases help foster smooth market functioning and accommodative financial conditions, thereby supporting the flow of credit to households and businesses.
In assessing the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook. The Committee would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee’s goals. The Committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on public health, labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments.
Voting for the monetary policy action were Jerome H. Powell, Chair; John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Thomas I. Barkin; Raphael W. Bostic; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; Richard H. Clarida; Mary C. Daly; Charles L. Evans; Randal K. Quarles; and Christopher J. Waller.
January 27 FOMC STATEMENT CHANGES via Newsquawk @Newsquawk
Source: Federal Reserve
From the TradersCommunity Research Des