The Federal Reserve is facing a backlash over its lack of diversity in key positions after it emerged this weekend that John Williams, the current president of the San Francisco regional branch, is a front-runner to succeed William Dudley as head of the powerful New York Fed.

Two regional Federal Reserve bank presidents said they favor raising interest rates twice more this year following a hike this week, but were open to shifting their views if the outlook warranted a different policy approach.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said he backed the Fed’s rate hike and would vote for others, even though inflation could potentially surpass 2%.

Bill Gross, the billionaire bond manager with Janus Henderson Group Plc, doesn't expect three or four hikes this year.

In his first press conference as chair following a Federal Open Market Committee Jerome Powell stressed that “one decision” was made at the meeting: raising rates 25 basis points to a 1.5% to 1.75% target range.

The Federal Open Market Committee raised the federal funds rate target to a 1.50% to 1.75% range, as expected, while the Summary of Economic Projections still calls for three hikes this year.

Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said higher interest rates will be needed to keep the U.S. economy from overheating.

The municipal bond market will focus more on the Summary of Economic Projections and the press conference, with a rate hike assumed.

Directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said they had narrowed their search for the bank’s next president to a “handful of final candidates,” without naming any.

The House has approved similar municipal securities and Puerto Rico provisions, but has wanted more sweeping bank deregulation legislation than the Senate.

Bryce Doty, senior vice president with Sit Investment Associates, says the Fed needs to appear more aggressive in order to stay ahead of inflation expectations. Gary Siegel hosts.

A fourth-quarter surge in municipal bond issuance spurred by tax reform led to the largest market in years.

Neel Kashkari is questioning whether the economy is really at full employment, a line his Federal Reserve colleagues frequently trot out.

Unless events change the economy, the Federal Open Market Committee will likely need four 25 basis point rate hikes this year, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren said Friday.

The Federal Reserve may be well-served by postponing additional interest-rate increases until inflation data show a stronger pickup in price pressures, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said trade wars might offset momentum from fiscal stimulus.

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard, one of the central bank’s most ardent doves, sounded optimistic about the U.S. economy’s outlook and suggested the pace of monetary policy tightening may need to accelerate.

Richard Clarida, an international monetary economist and Pacific Investment Management Co. global strategic adviser, is the front-runner for the nomination to be the Federal Reserve vice chairman, said a person familiar with deliberations.

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell seemed to counteract his earlier statement, which suggested the chance for four rate hikes in 2018.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell refused to comment on his views on the number of times the Federal Open Market Committee will raise rates this year, although he admitted his “outlook has strengthened since December.”