FOMC

The Federal Open Market Committee cut the fed funds target again in December but signaled fewer cuts in 2025. There was some dissent. The markets are watching to see if the Federal Reserve pauses its easing cycle in January. Join us at noon, Eastern, on Jan. 30 as Brian Rehling, head of global fixed-income strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, recaps and parses the previous day's FOMC meeting and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

Analysts are unsure what the Federal Open Market Committee will do with monetary policy in 2025. The panel projects two rate cuts, but some analysts expect more, and others see fewer.

As the market prepares for 2025, there's a lot of uncertainty around what the new administration will mean for the macroeconomic environment and interest rates, the latter of which may be impacted by policy around the deficit, said Steve Shutz, portfolio manager and director of tax-exempt fixed income at Brown Advisory.

A week ahead of inauguration day, Scott Colbert, executive vice president, director of fixed income and chief economist at Commerce Trust, takes a look at how the Federal Reserve and the economy will fare in President-elect Donald Trump's second run in the White House. Social Media Pitch: X: As we prepare for Trump 2.0, Join us live at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16 to hear Scott Colbert, executive vice president at Commerce Trust, as we discuss the economy and the Fed in a second Trump presidency. FB/LI: As we prepare for Trump 2.0, Join us live at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16 to hear Scott Colbert, executive vice president at Commerce Trust, discuss the economy and the Fed in a second Trump presidency. The relationship between Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been contentious, but Trump has backed away from suggestions he'd fire the chair.

Analysts are confident the Fed will lower rates at this week's meeting, but their views on what next year holds don't share the same consensus.

Donald Trump discussed various items related to the Fed and its independence and stated he would not nominate Jerome Powell for another term as chair. Join us on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m., Eastern, as Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities, discusses what a Trump presidency may mean for the Fed.

Municipals ignored USTs losses, leading to lower muni to UST ratios and adding to the better performance across the curve and credit spectrum.

Tax-exempt money market funds reached a 2024 high of assets under management at $136.84 billion for the week ending Wednesday, according to the Investment Company Institute.

"A sharply lower new-issuance calendar, peak yields, large redemption money and mutual funds inflows are all positive performance factors for the market," BofA strategists said.

Despite the post-election selloff, inflows continued this week as LSEG Lipper reported investors added $1.263 billion to municipal bond mutual funds for the week ending Wednesday, compared to $658.5 million of inflows the prior week. High-yield inflows returned.