Monetary policy

President Trump’s New Year’s Eve announcement that he will sign a phase one trade deal with China will offer some stability to those hurt most by the trade war and should allow the Federal Reserve to keep monetary policy accommodative, according to analysts.

The Federal Reserve may have succeeded in thwarting major year-end turmoil in funding markets.

The annual rotation among FOMC voters could influence monetary policy.

The economy should continue its moderate growth path, inflation may tick up, downside risks seem to have been put at bay by the Federal Reserve, and rates are likely to stay where they are, experts say.

The Federal Reserve should keep interest rates on hold next year, unless there’s a material change in the outlook for the U.S. economy, Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan said.

Recession fears, which persisted earlier this year, have subsided and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren does not expect a downturn unless a major shock occurs.

With markets still digesting Friday’s news, one thing is clear: the Federal Reserve will keep rates steady.

Reports of a trade deal and an election that seems to cement Brexit don’t remove the uncertainties the Federal Reserve has been worrying about.

Inflation remains tame, and although the consumer price index has ticked up, producer prices surprised to the downside Thursday.

As expected the Federal Open Market Committee left rates at a range of 1.5% to 1.75%, with no officials dissenting, and the updated forecasts call for rates to remain there through 2020.