Megaphone icon ETF Database is now VettaFi. Read More >
ETFdb Logo
ETFdb Logo
  • ETF Database
  • Channels
    • Active ETF
    • Alternatives
    • Beyond Basic Beta
    • China Insights
    • Climate Insights
    • Commodities
    • Core Strategies
    • Crypto
    • Disruptive Technology
    • Dividend
    • Dual Impact
    • Emerging Markets
    • Energy Infrastructure
    • Entrepreneur ETF
    • Equity ETF
    • ESG
    • ETF Building Blocks
    • ETF Education
    • ETF Strategist
    • Fixed Income
    • Future ETFs
    • Gold & Silver Investing
    • Innovative ETFs
    • Institutional Income Strategies
    • Leveraged & Inverse
    • Managed Futures
    • Modern Alpha
    • Multi-Asset
    • Multi-Factor
    • Nasdaq Investment Intelligence
    • Portfolio Strategies
    • Retirement Income
    • Smart Beta
    • Thematic Investing
    • Volatility Resource
  • Tools
    • ETF Screener
    • ETF Country Exposure Tool
    • ETF Sector Tracker Tool
    • ETF Database Categories
    • Head-To-Head ETF Comparison Tool
    • ETF Stock Exposure Tool
    • ETF Issuer Fund Flows
    • Indexes
    • Mutual Fund To ETF Converter
    • ETF Data for Journalists
    • ETF Nerds
  • Research
    • First Bitcoin ETF
    • ETF Education
    • Equity Investing
    • Dividend ETFs
    • Leveraged ETFs
    • Inverse ETFs
    • Top ETF Sectors
    • Top ETF Issuers
    • Top ETF Industries
  • Webcasts
  • Themes
    • AI ETFs
    • Blockchain ETFs
    • See all Thematic Investing ETF themes
    • ESG Investing
    • Marijuana ETFs
  • Videos & Podcasts
    • ETF 360 Video Series
    • ETF Trends on Videos
    • ETF Trends on Podcasts
    • ETF Prime Podcast
  • PRO
    • Pro Content
    • Pro Tools
    • Advanced
    • FAQ
    • Pricing
    • Free Sign Up
    • Login
  1. Fed Cuts Interest Rates 25 Basis Points
News
Share

Fed Cuts Interest Rates 25 Basis Points

Brenton GarenOct 30, 2019
2019-10-30

As widely expected, the Federal Open Market Committee lowered its benchmark funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 1.5% to 1.75% on Wednesday.

The move comes as the labor market remains strong and that economic activity has been rising at a moderate rate. This was the third cut this year as part of what Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has characterized as a “midcycle adjustment” in a maturing economic expansion.

“Job gains have been solid, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low,” a statement released Wednesday said. “Although household spending has been rising at a strong pace, business fixed investment and exports remain weak. On a 12-month basis, overall inflation and inflation for items other than food and energy are running below 2 percent. Market-based measures of inflation compensation remain low; survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed.”

Consistent with its statutory mandate, the statement said the committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability.

“In light of the implications of global developments for the economic outlook as well as muted inflation pressures, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent,” the statement read. “This action supports the Committee’s view that sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near the Committee’s symmetric 2 percent objective are the most likely outcomes, but uncertainties about this outlook remain. The Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook as it assesses the appropriate path of the target range for the federal funds rate.”

In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the committee said it would assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective.

“This assessment will take into account a wide range of information, including measures of labor market conditions, indicators of inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and readings on financial and international developments,” the statement said.

Jeff Yastine is a senior equities analyst at Banyan Hill Publishing, said since this time a year ago, when Fed chair Jay Powell did his about-face on interest rates, the central bank has been pretty transparent in its eagerness to cut interest rates.

“I don’t expect anything different this time around,” Yastine said. “The Fed will continue to be accommodative – if not always in word – it’s not going to hand investors an early Christmas gift each meeting-, then at least in spirit. So far, Wall Street is playing along to that tune, with the idea that the Fed’s rate cuts will help get corporate America past the Trump trade war, and a slower economy.”

Yastine said the bigger concern for investors should be asking what happens if and when the Trump administration resolves, even temporarily, its trade problems with China.

“Without the trade war on tap, it leaves the Fed less reason to continue being accommodative in cutting interest rates,” he said. “But my sense is that those worries are likely 4-6 months away. For now, it’s all about anticipating more ‘good news’ – on trade, on interest rates, on US economic growth – which should bode well for the stock market for at least the next few quarters.”

Voting for the monetary policy action were Jerome H. Powell, Chair; John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; James Bullard; Richard H. Clarida; Charles L. Evans; and Randal K. Quarles. Voting against this action were: Esther L. George and Eric S. Rosengren, who preferred at this meeting to maintain the target range at 1-3/4 percent to 2 percent.


Content continues below advertisement

» Popular Pages

  • Tickers
  • Articles

Jun 24

As Inflation Rises, Try Equal Weighting Equity Holdings

Jun 24

Cybersecurity Investments Could be an Opportunity

Jun 24

Diversifying During Rate Hikes With a Real Estate ETF

Jun 24

Don't Ever Bet Against the S&P 500

Jun 24

Have We Reached Rock Bottom?

Jun 24

Coinbase Poised to Launch Derivatives Product

Jun 24

Any Time is the Right Time to Begin Investing

Jun 24

American Century’s Sandra Testani

Jun 24

Exxon Demands Higher Carbon Tax: This Fund Benefits

Jun 24

Gender Matters When it Comes to Retirement Planning

QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust

SPY

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

VOO

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

ARKK

ARK Innovation ETF

VTI

Vanguard Total Stock Market...

XLE

Energy Select Sector SPDR...

VYM

Vanguard High Dividend Yield...

IVV

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

SCHD

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF...

XLK

Technology Select Sector SPDR...


Content continues below advertisement

Loading Articles...
Help & Info
  • Contact Us
  • Mission Statement
  • Press
Tools
  • ETF Screener
  • ETF Analyzer
  • Mutual Fund to ETF Converter
  • Head-To-Head ETF Comparison
  • ETF Country Exposure Tool
  • ETF Stock Exposure Tool
  • ETF Performance Visualizer
  • ETF Database Model Portfolios
  • ETF Database Realtime Ratings
  • ETF Database Pro
More Tools
  • ETF Launch Center
  • Financial Advisor & RIA Center
  • ETF Database RSS Feed
Explore ETFs
  • ETF News
  • ETF Picks of the Month
  • ETF Category Reports
  • Premium Articles
  • Alphabetical Listing of ETFs
  • Best ETFs
  • Browse ETFs by ETF Database Category
  • Browse ETFs by Index
  • Browse ETFs by Issuer
  • Compare ETFs
Legal
  • Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
  • © ETF Flows LLC
Follow ETF Database
Follow ETF Database

Advertisement

Is Your Portfolio Positioned With Enough Global Exposure?

ETF Education Channel

How to Allocate Commodities in Portfolios

Tom LydonApr 26, 2022
2022-04-26

A long-running debate in asset allocation circles is how much of a portfolio an investor should...

Core Strategies Channel

Why ETFs Experience Limit Up/Down Protections

Karrie GordonMay 13, 2022
2022-05-13

In a digital age where information moves in milliseconds and millions of participants can transact...

}
X