Fed Holds Rates Flat As Tariffs, Uncertainty Make Their Mark

Federal Reserve officials held the central bank’s benchmark interest rate flat Wednesday, indicating that they plan to wait for President Donald Trump`s early trade moves to percolate through the economy before they act.  

The target range for the federal funds rate will stay between 4.25% and 4.5%, the same outcome as The Fed`s January meeting. The move by the Federal Open Market Committee was anticipated by investors, who are increasingly looking to make deals despite a cloudy economic outlook.

“There’s really high uncertainty,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said during a press conference Wednesday. “We think our policy is in a good place and that we can move when we need to. But right now we think it’s appropriate to wait and, given where the economy is right now, we think the price of doing that is very low.” ...   ...more

RSK: I don`t think anyone is surprised by this action....at least I`m not.