FOMC

Federal Reserve officials did not see the conditions for reducing their massive asset-purchase program being met for “some time” at their January policy meeting, a record of the gathering showed.

Federal Reserve officials said the economy continues to be disrupted by the pandemic with one regional central bank chief dismissing the threat that inflation could get out of hand.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw the economy into disarray, creating uncertainty in so many areas, and economists still don’t agree on the future of inflation. But they agree the Fed will need to adjust when the economy starts to improve.

Economist Lisa Cook has the backing of several key White House officials and allies outside the administration as a possible choice for President Joe Biden in filling a vacancy on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, according to people familiar with the matter.

While most observers expect inflation to grow as the economy heals, the latest CPI numbers suggest that it hasn't yet arrived.

The Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program, which was designed to provide emergency support to mid-size U.S. companies during the pandemic, lent out a total $17.5 billion.

Bouts of higher inflation won’t be surprising and while they’ll likely be transitory, it’ll be something to watch closely, said Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan.

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George said the U.S. central bank was still “far away” from achieving its goals and it was premature to start a debate on scaling back its massive bond-buying program.

ICI reports a third week of $3-plus billion of inflows. Couponing is becoming as much a factor in inquiry as credit and issuers move to lower coupons in both competitive and negotiated deals.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari on Monday became the latest central bank official to push back against the idea that the trading frenzy in GameStop Corp. and other hot stocks calls for a monetary policy response.

The U.S. central bank should not prematurely withdraw pandemic support for the U.S. economy just because some people are getting rich in the stock market, said San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Mary Daly.

The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee repeated earlier this week that it would continue to make asset purchases of at least $120 billion every month until “substantial further progress” had been made toward its employment and inflation goals.

Fed chair says it's unlikely there will be "troubling inflation" any time soon, and rates will stay low and asset purchases will continue at current levels. ICI reports another $3.24 billion of inflows as munis follow UST to lower yields.

Returns of all the investment grade options "pale in comparison to those for municipal high-yield," which should bolster Texas gas and Chicago public schools deals.

While no FOMC action on monetary policy is expected, markets are watching for how the Federal Reserve partners with the Biden administration and how it reacts to the 10-year Treasury yield rising from 0.52% on Aug. 4 to 1.15% on Jan. 14.

Fed’s Rosengren calls Biden stimulus plan big yet ‘appropriate’

It’s premature to discuss reducing the amount of monetary-policy support for the U.S. economy while the pandemic is still raging, said Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard.

Federal Reserve officials said that more fiscal support and the mass distribution of vaccines could lead to a strong U.S. economic recovery in the second half, setting the stage for a discussion of potential tapering of bond buying before year’s end.

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin says the U.S. could face a bumpy first six months but will be well supported by the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and fiscal stimulus later in the year.

Transcripts of the Federal Reserve’s 2015 policy meetings show that then-Fed Chair Janet Yellen acknowledged that the Fed should sacrifice potential job gains in order to cut off the possibility of higher inflation.