Skip to content

CFDs are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. CFDs are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

What to expect from this week’s FOMC meeting

The Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting takes place on Wednesday. The questions are: will the Fed provide more details on its balance sheet normalisation, and will we get further details on potential interest rate hikes?

Video poster image

Another rate hike is unlikely this time around as the disruptions caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have distorted the overall picture of the US economy (witness the spike in initial jobless claims in what has been an otherwise uninterrupted downtrend). However, the important bit will be whether they maintain their commitment to more gradual rate rises. More tightening would likely give further support to the beleaguered US dollar. But given that the chances of a December move are still 47%, the greenback will likely need a more hawkish assessment for the path of rates, i.e. an expectation of more rate hikes in 2018. 

Balance sheet reduction, or Quantitative Tightening (QT) as it may become known, is the other thing to watch for. Some banks are expecting the Federal Reserve to announce that QT will begin in October, but the pace will still be a key detail.

The accompanying statement should flag that the recent spate of hurricanes will have caused some softness in the data, but that this will pass in due course and does not affect the overall path of policy towards a tighter position than hitherto.

Looking to the market impact, we would need to see a significantly more hawkish Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting to really shift the outlook for the dollar, which has steadily declined all year. Set against the recent hawkish shifts by the European Central Bank (ECB) and now the Bank of England (BoE), the Fed is lacklustre by comparison. The real step change may come next year, when changes in committee composition and the potential replacement of Janet Yellen as chair could mean that more hawks are in a position to impose their views.

At present, the EUR/USD rally also remains intact, while the apparent shift in mood at the BoE could mean that the greenback struggles to make much progress. This Fed meeting will be a step on the road to tighter policy, but is unlikely to see any tightening this time around. 

 

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication.  Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. 

CFDs are a leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.

Find articles by writer