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Analysis

The Federal Funds Rate Announcement: How Will it Impact Markets?

BY TIO Staff

|September 17, 2024

The Federal Reserve's anticipated Funds Rate announcement on Wednesday 18th September 2024 has been the topic of much conversation among analysts recently. As US inflation eases, the forecast is for the Fed to reduce the federal funds rate by 25 basis points this week. However, a 50 basis point cut is also being talked about as a possible scenario by a minority of economists.

Keep reading to learn more.

Federal Reserve's Expected Actions

The Federal Reserve is expected to make a significant policy move this week by lowering the federal funds rate. This major event could potentially have far-reaching implications for the broader economy.

The consensus among most analysts as indicated on our economic calendar is that the rate will likely be cut by 25 basis points. However, a minority think that a 50 basis point cut would be more beneficial under current economic conditions. The Fed has been maintaining high rates to combat inflation for quite some time now, but with inflationary pressures easing to the Fed’s target rate, the central bank appears ready to cut rates.

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US Economic Outlook

The broader economic outlook remains cautiously optimistic, economic growth in the US is forecasted to be at or above the 1.8% non-inflationary rate over the coming years. The unemployment rate is projected to hover around 4.2% through the end of 2026, indicating a relatively stable job market. Furthermore, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation is projected to reach the Fed's 2% target by the first quarter of 2025.

Although most economists favour a 25 basis point cut, Michael Feroli from JP Morgan says that a 50 basis point reduction would be more effective. He believes that slower income growth is a headwind to consumer spending, and a larger rate cut could better support the economy. Feroli points out that current policies are restrictive, with growing downside employment risks and diminishing upside inflation risks.

Trading the Fed Funds Rate Announcement

The Federal Reserve's upcoming potential rate cut is a shift in monetary policy, aimed at fostering economic stability as inflationary pressures ease. The broader economic outlook for the US remains stable, with growth and employment rates expected to hold steady.

Traders should stay informed, remain vigilant and consider how these potential adjustments by the Fed will impact their trading strategies. According to historical data from Trading Central on our economic calendar, when the actual data matched the forecast:

  • The price change on the USDJPY for the past 8 events ended bearish 63% of the time, over a 4 hour period after the announcement.
  • The average price range for the USDJPY over a 4 hour period after the announcement was 161 pips.
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The markets could get quite volatile around the time of the announcement, providing trading opportunities and risks, so be prepared for any scenario and trade responsibly.

How Will You Trade The Fed's Fund Rate Announcement?

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While research has been undertaken to compile the above content, it remains an informational and educational piece only. None of the content provided constitutes any form of investment advice.

TIO Markets UK Limited is a company registered in England and Wales under company number 06592025 and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN: 488900

Risk warning: CFDs and Spreadbets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and Spreadbets with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and Spreadbets work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money

DISCLAIMER: TIO Markets offers an exclusively execution-only service. The views expressed are for information purposes only. None of the content provided constitutes any form of investment advice. The comments are made available purely for educational and marketing purposes and do NOT constitute advice or investment recommendation (and should not be considered as such) and do not in any way constitute an invitation to acquire any financial instrument or product. TIOmarkets and its affiliates and consultants are not liable for any damages that may be caused by individual comments or statements by TIOmarkets analysis and assumes no liability with respect to the completeness and correctness of the content presented. The investor is solely responsible for the risk of his/her investment decisions. The analyses and comments presented do not include any consideration of your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. The content has not been prepared in accordance with any legal requirements for financial analysis and must, therefore, be viewed by the reader as marketing information. TIOmarkets prohibits duplication or publication without explicit approval.

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TIO Staff

Behind every blog post lies the combined experience of the people working at TIOmarkets. We are a team of dedicated industry professionals and financial markets enthusiasts committed to providing you with trading education and financial markets commentary. Our goal is to help empower you with the knowledge you need to trade in the markets effectively.

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