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Federal Reserve Bank leaders, working to prevent an economic slowdown, begin two days of meetings on Tuesday. Economists predict they will announce an interest rate cut of 25 basis points, or a quarter of a percent. It would be the second cut this year. I joined CBS This Morning to discuss how this could affect your bottom line.
Last week, the European Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low of -0.5 percent. That’s right, MINUS! Big commercial banks now have to pay the ECB a little bit more for the privilege of keeping money in reserve.
The cost of borrowing is going down, but so is the return on savings, after the Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate. I joined the CBS Evening News to explain how it will impact Americans.
Amid renewed Presidential criticism and evidence of a slowing economy, Fed officials will convene a two-day policy meeting this week and the pressure is on. As always, central bankers have to balance maintaining a strong enough economy to foster job growth, but it can’t run too hot, which might trigger inflation. Right now, there’s a battle brewing inside the collective Fed’s Head between action and inaction.
Last week, the Federal Reserve decided not to raise interest rates. The more dovish Fed outlook pushed down interest rates, which led mortgage rates to 14-month lows. The current 30-year fixed rate loan stands at just under 4.3 percent, just in time for the spring home buying season.
Short-term interest rates are higher after the Fed raised rates Wednesday by a quarter point, to a range of 2.25 percent to 2.5 percent. It's the fourth rise this year and the highest level since 2008. The Dow closed down almost 352 points after the announcement, the lowest close of the year. How does the rate rise impact Americans? I discussed on CBS This Morning.
Have a money question? Email me here.
The Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate by a quarter percent Wednesday, marking its fourth increase this year. The news caused stock markets to reverse course. I discussed on the CBS Evening News.
Have a money question? Email me here.
President Trump is not happy with the Federal Reserve. In an interview with CNBC, he said that while he put a “very good man” at the helm of the central bank (Jerome Powell), he’s “not thrilled” that interest rates are rising. The remarks got a lot of attention, because for the past twenty years or so, presidents and administration officials have abstained from commenting on the Fed’s monetary policy to preserve the central bank’s independence from partisan pressure.(For more on the complicated relationship between the Fed and Congress, check out my interview with author and Fed expert, Mark Spindel.)
After stock markets powered forward (NASDAQ and Russell 2000 hit new all-time highs) and contentious trade talk continued, this week, the focus turns to the Federal Reserve. For the second time this year, policy makers are expected to raise short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percent to a new range of 1.75 to 2 percent. If so, it would be the sixth quarter-point bump since the current rate tightening cycle started in December 2015.
