Fed’s Musalem calls for rate hike soon as policy remains too loose
On Friday, St. Louis Federal Reserve (Fed) President Alberto Musalem said that the Federal Reserve will need to raise rates “again soon” and, echoing earlier statements from Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin, he prefers a gradual approach.
In prepared remarks for the Shadow Open Market Committee, a gathering of economists focused on the Fed, Musalem added that “inflation remains elevated,” hinting that further tightening is needed and that current monetary policy and financial conditions remain “accommodative.”
Key highlights:
Acting earlier with rate increases reduces risk to wider economy
Us central bank to hike interest rates again soon
Gradual rate adjustments preferable to sudden moves
Elevated long-term bond yields fueled by anticipated higher policy rates
Inflation remains elevated, unlikely to decline without central bank measures
Current monetary policy remains accommodative
Financial conditions continue to be accommodative
Best move now is restoring price stability
Financial conditions are tighter, but only slightly
Wider economy and labor market robust
Risks remain tilted toward elevated inflation
Inflation expectations remain steady
Q3 data confirm the underlying strength of the economy
US Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Euro.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.21% | -0.14% | -0.17% | -0.28% | -0.07% | -0.06% | -0.12% | |
| EUR | -0.21% | -0.34% | -0.35% | -0.47% | -0.26% | -0.27% | -0.31% | |
| GBP | 0.14% | 0.34% | -0.02% | -0.13% | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.02% | |
| JPY | 0.17% | 0.35% | 0.02% | -0.10% | 0.10% | 0.10% | 0.05% | |
| CAD | 0.28% | 0.47% | 0.13% | 0.10% | 0.20% | 0.21% | 0.16% | |
| AUD | 0.07% | 0.26% | -0.08% | -0.10% | -0.20% | 0.00% | -0.04% | |
| NZD | 0.06% | 0.27% | -0.08% | -0.10% | -0.21% | -0.00% | -0.04% | |
| CHF | 0.12% | 0.31% | -0.02% | -0.05% | -0.16% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
Fed FAQs
Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.
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