Fed Rates Seen On Hold; But Yellen May Signal June Gloom

Investors Business Daily ^ | March 15, 2016 | ED CARSON

[expat_panama]

The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at the end of its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, but policymakers may signal fresh monetary action in the next few months, perhaps in June.

The Fed will issue its policy statement at 2 p.m. ET, along with new economic forecasts. Fed Chairwoman will hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m.

The central bank raised rates for the first time in nearly a decade in December. But financial market turmoil, perhaps partially fueled by that December move, along with weaker economic data spurred policymakers to hold off on further tightening at its Jan. 26-27 meeting, noting in the post-meeting statement that they were “closely monitoring global economic and financial developments.”

But global stock markets and oil prices have steadied, while U.S. economic data generally have been more favorable, though retail sales data Tuesday were weak.

Investors will be looking for signs that the central bank is leaning toward hikes once again...

[expat_panama]

Good morning and the NASDAQ chalks up another 'distribution day' --the count's now at NASDAQ 5 and S&P 1.  While we still got our uptrend but this is a signal we need to keep track of.    Not to worry, Yellen's call won't be until this afternoon:

7:00 AM MBA Mortgage Index
8:30 AM CPI
8:30 AM Core CPI
8:30 AM Housing Starts
8:30 AM Building Permits
9:15 AM Industrial Production
9:15 AM Capacity Utilization
10:30 AM Crude Inventories
2:00 PM FOMC Rate Decision

Meanwhile precious metals remain perched at the support levels they've been enjoying the past couple weeks.
 

Lots of news, I may have to start a few new threads; I'll keep y'all posted...

[cp124]

Sales of industrial equipment -40% compared to last year at this time. Oh wait, the media is saying it is the greatest economy in the history of mankind and we need Hitlary to continue the destruction of the country.

[2001convSVT]

No economic truth can be found in the media, they are more ignorant on financial and macro/micro-economic issues then the general public, and will continue to shill for the socialist central government as long as companies continue to pay them advertising dollars. In the mean time the Feds central planners will continue to devalue the dollar and spend endlessly on failed projects, its the crony socialist way. Another reason to go Galt as fast as you can.

[expat_panama]

The mindless media are business as usual. My worry is that Ms. Yellen seems to be either believing it or pushing it. Either way it’s crazy.

[Jumper]

It is a long time until June... she could raise rates any week (weak) between now and then. She will raise rates, but how much and how soon, and will the reasoning be that now is better than later given the turmoil in the markets?

[expat_panama]

This is from a related thread I Believe a Broadening Market Top Is In Place

[expat_panama]

--another related thread: Federal debt as percent of GDP reaches post-WWII record high