FOMC

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.

Federal Reserve officials shouldn’t intervene to slow rising bond yields because that is expected to happen as the U.S. economy recovers, said Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan.

It was inevitable that muni yields would need to rise somewhat as the UST 10-year broke above 1%, however participants said the supply/demand imbalance will keep munis from rising as quickly as Treasuries. More than $1 billion inflows reported.

FOMC members backed maintaining asset purchases, although “a couple” were “open” to “weighting purchases of Treasury securities toward longer maturities,” according to minutes released Wednesday.

Federal Reserve officials unanimously backed holding the pace of asset purchases steady when they met last month.

The rotational changes for the FOMC voters will be more centered, walking a more balanced line between hawks and doves, analysts believe.

Another $900 billion of fiscal support would “absolutely” make a significant difference to the U.S. economy’s ability to endure COVID-19, but “challenging months” lie ahead, a top Federal Reserve official said.

Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida, voicing optimism on the economic outlook thanks to coronavirus vaccines, said the U.S. will likely avoid slipping back into recession as growth rebounds next year.

The Federal Reserve's Summary of Economic Projections forecasts inflation won't hit its 2% target next year, and others agree.

The Federal Open Market Committee announcement commits it to buying at least $120 billion of securities a month until “substantial further progress” is made on its dual mandate of stable prices and maximum employment, suggesting it will continue well into 2022.

The Federal Reserve said it will continue to support the economy through massive monetary stimulus until it sees “substantial further progress” in employment and inflation.

The Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week will not offer the chance of rate changes, but will bring a new dot plot, and economists are most interested in the GDP projections.

Christopher Waller was confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve Board on Thursday by a 48-47 vote along party lines.

The Federal Reserve is in no hurry to taper its massive bond buying program, Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday.

The Senate voted to advance Christopher Waller’s nomination to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, clearing the way for final confirmation Thursday.

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard said Tuesday that more government fiscal aid is needed to prevent deeper damage to a U.S. economy coping with a fresh surge in coronavirus cases.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set up a vote to advance the nomination of Christopher Waller to the Federal Reserve Board, potentially clearing the way for his confirmation later this week.