US DOLLAR, OCTOBER FED MEETING, FOMC RATE DECISION – TALKING POINTS:
- The US Dollar jumped immediately following the latest FOMC rate decision which revealed a third consecutive 0.25% interest rate cut as widely expected by markets
- The Fed omitted dovish language previously communicated as the central bank pivots to a firmer monetary policy stance and is bolstering USD price action but reversed during the Powell presser
- Fed meetings have historically sparked major US Dollar volatility in response to FOMC rate decisions
The US Dollar spiked higher right after the Federal Reserve revealed another 25-basis point interest rate cut as expected – its third in a row. The FOMC decision comes as little surprise, however, seeing that overnight swaps were pricing in a rough 95% probability that the Fed would cut rates again prior to the October meeting. The US central bank’s benchmark interest rate – the Federal funds rate (FFR) – now sits at a target range of 1.50-1.75%.
While it might be expected that the US Dollar would fall following an interest rate cut from the Fed, the move was largely priced in already. Furthermore, the latest FOMC statement cut out dovish language previously detailed in the September Fed meeting press release. Specifically, the Fed removed that it would “act as appropriate to sustain the expansion,” which is being interpreted as a firmer monetary policy stance and creating uncertainty over the market’s priced in rate cuts for December and beyond.
US DOLLAR INDEX PRICE CHART: 5-MINUTE TIME FRAME (OCTOBER 30, 2019 INTRADAY)
Chart created by @RichDvorakFX with TradingView
The DXY Index – a popular basket of major US Dollar currency pairs heavily weighted toward EUR/USD – jumped higher following the latest FOMC decision. Though commentary from Fed Chair Powell during the follow-up press conference sent the US Dollar whipsawing lower.
USD/JPY PRICE CHART: 5-MINUTE TIME FRAME (OCTOBER 30, 2019 INTRADAY)
USD/JPY spiked to session highs following the latest FOMC rate cut as expectations for further easing from the Fed grows less likely, but quickly pivoted back down to session lows as Fed Chair Powell provided further details on the central bank's latest stance on monetary policy.
FOMC RATE CUT EXPECTATIONS (DECEMBER 2019)
Minutes prior to the October Fed decision, rate traders were pricing in a 30.7% probability that the FOMC would cut rates for a fourth consecutive meeting down to a target FFR range of 1.25-1.50%. As markets digested the FOMC press statement and Fed Chair Powell commented further on the central bank’s latest monetary policy update, however, the probability of another 25-basis point rate cut before the end of the year dropped to a mere 18.8% chance.
FED CHAIR POWELL PROJECTS CONFIDENCE IN US ECONOMY & FIRM MONETARY POLICY STANCE BUT STRESSES NEED TO BOOST BANK RESERVES
Powell detailed that he and the FOMC believe that the current positioning of monetary policy ‘is in a good place.’ This is of course predicated on the assumption that actual data and the US economy will evolve in line with central bank’s most recent economic projections. Fed Chair Powell said how interest rates are currently at an accommodative level with the real FFR ‘probably modestly below zero.’
Furthermore, the head central banker stated that the Fed’s outlook on the US economy is for moderate growth close to 2%. Powell added that the household sector has been strong and how consumers remain healthy. Likewise, the Fed Chair highlighted the positive shift in risk trends recently and referenced the reduced risk of no-deal Brexit and receding US-China trade tensions.
Powell commented on robust labor market gains and how it is the reason the Fed hopes to sustain the expansion. He also noted how low initial jobless claims data is showing a positive sign that the employment backdrop remains on a solid foundation. Though the US Dollar began to reverse quickly when Powell mentioned FOMC officials are not considering raising rates right now and added how inflation seems to be struggling to hit the central bank’s 2% symmetric target. The reversal in USD price action was exacerbated following remarks on the importance of boosting reserves up to $1.5 trillion.
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-- Written by Rich Dvorak, Junior Analyst for DailyFX.com
Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight
