Fed keeps interest rate and QE unchanged. Below is the full statement.
Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement
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. Economic activity and employment have continued to recover but remain well below their levels at the beginning of the year. 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. The ongoing public health crisis will continue to weigh on economic activity, employment, and inflation in the near term, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term.
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, over coming months the Federal Reserve will increase its holdings of Treasury securities and agency mortgage-backed securities at least at the current pace to sustain smooth market functioning and help foster 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; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; Richard H. Clarida; Mary C. Daly; Patrick Harker; Robert S. Kaplan; Loretta J. Mester; and Randal K. Quarles. Ms. Daly voted as an alternate member at this meeting.
Dollar strikes back as 10-yr yield breaks key resistance, Gold eyes key support
Dollar is trying to make a come back with strong rally in US treasury yield, as also confirmed by the steep fall in gold. 10 year yield is trading up 0.145 at 0.965 at the time of writing. Technically, the strong break of near term channel resistance is a clear sign of upside acceleration. More importantly, 0.957 key resistance is violated too. Focus will now be on two things. Firstly, could TNX sustain above 0.957? Secondly could TNX breaks through 1% handle with conviction? If both happens, chance for a Dollar come back would increase.
As for gold, the rejection from 1973.58 resistance retains near term bearishness. Focus is indeed back on 1848.39 support in Gold. Firm break there will resume the whole decline from 2075.18. In the bigger picture. Firm break of 1848.39 would raise that chance that fall from 2075.18 is a medium term correction, correcting the whole up trend from 1160.17. In that case, we might see gold falling further to 55 week EMA (now at 1737.56). We’ll see how gold, yield and Dollar interacts ahead.