Trump administration officials moved to reassure financial markets that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s job is safe following a report said President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed firing the central bank chief after last week’s Fed rate hike.

Although the Federal Reserve projects two rate hikes in 2019, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams stressed that those are based on expectations of economic conditions and are not a commitment.

The Federal Open Market Committee cut its projection for next year to two rate increases from three.

Monetary policy may need to become restrictive at some point, but the Summary of Economic Projections is “not a signal” that it will, Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve raised borrowing costs for the fourth time this year, ignoring a stock-market selloff and defying pressure from President Donald Trump, while dialing back projections for interest rates and economic growth in 2019.

While bond market prognosticators are confident the Federal Open Market Committee will raise the fed funds rate target by 25 basis points this week, they remain less certain on the outlook for 2019.

Arthur Bass, managing director of fixed income financing, futures and rates at Wedbush, discusses the yield curve inversion, recession chances and the Federal Reserve. Gary Siegel hosts.

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard said U.S. economic momentum is strong and a gradual approach to interest-rate increases remains appropriate for now.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivered a bullish assessment of the U.S. economy and the job market.

With monetary policy close to neutral levels and no signs of an overheating economy, the Federal Reserve should move cautiously, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said Thursday.

Traders of U.S. interest-rate futures are no longer certain that the Federal Reserve will raise rates even once more next year.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan said that he’ll be counseling patience as the central bank moves into 2019 against a backdrop of slowing growth and no sign that inflation is taking off.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams expressed no concern that markets have dialed back expectations for policy tightening in 2019.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that while the central bank has made progress toward a “strong economy” with rising wages, many lower-income workers have been left behind.

Forward guidance and quantitative easing became important tools for the Federal Reserve in the Great Recession, but received mixed reviews as to their effectiveness.

The Treasury market has functioned normally despite the Federal Reserve’s balance-sheet reduction, according to Federal Reserve Board Gov. Lael Brainard.

The economy will grow above trend, inflation will tick lower, and unemployment will remain low through next year.

Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida said the U.S. central bank will defend both sides of its inflation target.

Federal Reserve officials, meeting earlier this month, saw another increase in the benchmark lending rate as likely warranted “fairly soon” even while they set the stage for more flexibility in their series of gradual hikes.

Bill Merz, a director of fixed income at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, discusses monetary policy, when the Federal Reserve may pause and the yield curve. Gary Siegel hosts.