FOMC

Separately, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said the FOMC wouldn't raise rates in response to a “hot” labor market, out of fear over subsequent inflation.

The Federal Reserve is on track to begin increasing interest rates in 2023 if the economy performs as policy makers are projecting, Vice Chairman Richard Clarida said Wednesday.

President Joe Biden has a tough decision in choosing the next Federal Reserve chair: Play it safe by giving Jerome Powell a second term or take a chance on a liberal like Lael Brainard, who would please progressives in Congress yet potentially agitate Wall Street.

Joe Kalish, chief global macro strategist at Ned Davis Research, discusses his thoughts on when the Federal Reserve will announce it will cut back on its asset purchases, the possibility of Chair Jerome Powell’s re-nomination and what to expect from the Jackson Hole summit. Gary Siegel hosts (27 minutes)

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said that if the next two monthly U.S. employment reports show continued gains, he could back an announcement soon on scaling back the central bank’s bond purchases.

Federal Reserve Board Gov. Lael Brainard staked out some different ground from Chair Jerome Powell as the policy makers await a presidential decision on who should lead the central bank in the coming four years.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 could keep some Americans from looking for work, potentially harming the U.S. recovery.

Financial markets “are very well prepared” for the Federal Reserve to start tapering its massive asset-purchase program in the fall, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said.

The massive summer reinvestment into municipal bond mutual funds continue and are both sustaining the strength of investor demand and solidifying the technical footing of the market.

The economy continues to recover, with durable goods orders and consumer confidence suggesting strength, but concerns about the Delta variant of COVID-19 and continued supply-chain problems cloud the future outlook.

The last week of July marks a lighter calendar while August redemptions are huge compared to the expected supply. Investors need to get in line and likely accept lower yields and continued historically low ratios.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell enjoys broad support for his renomination among top White House advisers, though the decision is expected later this year.

Increasing attention to whether inflation is a problem for the U.S. economy and financial markets isn’t resolved easily by looking at the most recent economic and financial market data.

Ed Moya, senior market analyst for the Americas at OANDA, talks with Bond Buyer Managing Editor Gary Siegel about the upcoming FOMC meeting, inflation, the possibility of tapering and the future make-up of the Fed in a wide-ranging discussion on the economy and monetary policy. (31 minutes)

Some Democrats are weighing the possible reappointment of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, the Financial Times reports, citing California Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the question of whether to nominate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for a second term is a conversation for her and President Joe Biden.

U.S. Treasuries have been volatile the past five sessions, with municipals largely ignoring the ride. Participants mostly have accepted current rates and ratios as large amounts of cash slosh around a market with strong technicals.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said the central bank has met its goal of achieving “substantial further progress” on both inflation and employment, urging policy makers to move forward in reducing stimulus.

Municipals outperformed U.S. Treasuries for a third sessions moving the 10-year municipal to UST ratio below 60%.

The high level of incarceration in the U.S., especially among Americans of color and indigenous people, constrains the labor market and the economy’s ability to reach its full potential, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said.