This Week's FOMC Meeting: Why to Expect More Stimulus
Investors should expect welcome news from the U.S. Federal Reserve Wednesday at the end of this week's two-day FOMC meeting . As central bankers gathered Tuesday for the last policy meeting of the year, expectations were high that Fed Chief Ben Bernanke and his cohorts will announce a large scale asset purchase plan to replace the soon-to-end Operation Twist, introduced in September 2011. The Fed hopes additional stimulus will finally boost growth and the employment level. With the current unemployment level at an elevated 7.7% -- a number that economists say will be revised higher in the coming weeks - the weak labor market remains a grave concern. At recent meetings, the Fed indicated that it will continue QE3, the policy of buying $45 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month until it sees a significant and sustained improvement in the employment scene - which is unlikely to come anytime soon. Together with Operation Twist, the two programs added some $85 billion in long-term bonds to the Fed's balance sheet each month. The aim, the Fed said in a statement, "should put downward pressure on longer-term interest rates, support mortgage markets, and help to make broader financial conditions more accommodative." The central bank has also stressed it would employ its other policy tools "if the labor market does not improve substantially." While the Fed did not elaborate on what those tools are, it maintains it still has plenty of ammo left and stands ready to pull the trigger when and if necessary. It looks like now is the time. To continue reading, please click here...
Investors should expect welcome news from the U.S. Federal Reserve Wednesday at the end of this week's two-day FOMC meeting.
As central bankers gathered Tuesday for the last policy meeting of the year, expectations were high that Fed Chief Ben Bernanke and his cohorts will announce a large scale asset purchase plan to replace the soon-to-end Operation Twist, introduced in September 2011.
The Fed hopes additional stimulus will finally boost growth and the employment level. With the current unemployment level at an elevated 7.7% -- a number that economists say will be revised higher in the coming weeks - the weak labor market remains a grave concern.
At recent meetings, the Fed indicated that it will continue QE3, the policy of buying $45 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month until it sees a significant and sustained improvement in the employment scene - which is unlikely to come anytime soon.
Together with Operation Twist, the two programs added some $85 billion in long-term bonds to the Fed's balance sheet each month.
The aim, the Fed said in a statement, "should put downward pressure on longer-term interest rates, support mortgage markets, and help to make broader financial conditions more accommodative."
The central bank has also stressed it would employ its other policy tools "if the labor market does not improve substantially."
While the Fed did not elaborate on what those tools are, it maintains it still has plenty of ammo left and stands ready to pull the trigger when and if necessary.
It looks like now is the time.
Three Things to Watch at this Week's FOMC Meeting
Analysts suppose the Fed will continue to buy $45 billion per month of long-dated Treasuries. But, this time around, this will be done without the simultaneous selling of short-term ones as has been the case under Operation Twist.
The future of the $45 billion per month Treasury purchases are expected to be open-ended as well (not swapped for short-term ones), and has prompted a handful of astute economists to give the new policy the name QE4, the Business Insider reports. It will also swell the Fed's already swollen stash.
"QE4 will result in a doubling of the expansion rate of the Fed's balance sheet," UBS economist Drew Matus notes.
As for the maturity of the bond purchases, economists say they could include bonds with maturities as short as four-and-a-half years, so as to include the five-year notes. Under Operation Twist, the maturities were in the 6-30 year range.
There is not much lower for rates to drop. And besides, skeptics argue the low rates have done little to help the economy. So bringing them down even lower won't have a noteworthy impact.
Plus, the Fed has vowed not to raise interest rates until the unemployment level dips to 6.5%.
What are expected to change are the economic projections.
Societe Generale economist Aneta Markowska notes the Fed's "2013 GDP forecast published in September still looks relatively high at 2.5%-3% and is at risk of being revised lower."
Yet most economists don't see much in the way of forecast revisions given the uncertainties surrounding the economy.
Should the $607 billion wallop from higher taxes and government spending cuts kick-in on Jan. 1 and endure for a good part of 2013, any good from the Fed's assets purchases, low stance on interest rates and loose monetary policy will not prevent an imminent recession next year.
So even if the Fed can cushion the fall, it can't stop the country from tumbling over the cliff. That is up to Congress.
The outcome of this week's FOMC meeting will be announced Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Related Articles and News:
Tags: federal open market committee, Federal Reserve, fomc definition, fomc interest rate, FOMC Meeting, fomc meeting schedule, FOMC members, fomc press release, FOMC rate decision, FOMC statement, QE4, QE4 definition, Quantitative Easing, quantitative easing 4, This week's FOMC Meeting, what is QE4
The Fed hopes additional stimulus will finally boost growth and the employment level. With the current unemployment level at an elevated 7.7% -- a number that economists say will be revised higher in the coming weeks - the weak labor market remains a grave concern.
At recent meetings, the Fed indicated that it will continue QE3, the policy of buying $45 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month until it sees a significant and sustained improvement in the employment scene - which is unlikely to come anytime soon.
Together with Operation Twist, the two programs added some $85 billion in long-term bonds to the Fed's balance sheet each month.
The aim, the Fed said in a statement, "should put downward pressure on longer-term interest rates, support mortgage markets, and help to make broader financial conditions more accommodative."
The central bank has also stressed it would employ its other policy tools "if the labor market does not improve substantially."
While the Fed did not elaborate on what those tools are, it maintains it still has plenty of ammo left and stands ready to pull the trigger when and if necessary.
It looks like now is the time.
Three Things to Watch at this Week's FOMC Meeting
- QE4?
Analysts suppose the Fed will continue to buy $45 billion per month of long-dated Treasuries. But, this time around, this will be done without the simultaneous selling of short-term ones as has been the case under Operation Twist.
The future of the $45 billion per month Treasury purchases are expected to be open-ended as well (not swapped for short-term ones), and has prompted a handful of astute economists to give the new policy the name QE4, the Business Insider reports. It will also swell the Fed's already swollen stash.
"QE4 will result in a doubling of the expansion rate of the Fed's balance sheet," UBS economist Drew Matus notes.
As for the maturity of the bond purchases, economists say they could include bonds with maturities as short as four-and-a-half years, so as to include the five-year notes. Under Operation Twist, the maturities were in the 6-30 year range.
- Language and Projections
There is not much lower for rates to drop. And besides, skeptics argue the low rates have done little to help the economy. So bringing them down even lower won't have a noteworthy impact.
Plus, the Fed has vowed not to raise interest rates until the unemployment level dips to 6.5%.
What are expected to change are the economic projections.
Societe Generale economist Aneta Markowska notes the Fed's "2013 GDP forecast published in September still looks relatively high at 2.5%-3% and is at risk of being revised lower."
Yet most economists don't see much in the way of forecast revisions given the uncertainties surrounding the economy.
- Fiscal Cliff Factor
Should the $607 billion wallop from higher taxes and government spending cuts kick-in on Jan. 1 and endure for a good part of 2013, any good from the Fed's assets purchases, low stance on interest rates and loose monetary policy will not prevent an imminent recession next year.
So even if the Fed can cushion the fall, it can't stop the country from tumbling over the cliff. That is up to Congress.
The outcome of this week's FOMC meeting will be announced Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Related Articles and News:
- Money Morning:
Tax Fight Remains Biggest Roadblock in Fiscal Cliff Deal - Money Morning:
Will the Government Confiscate Your Gold - Money Morning:
Take a Closer Look Before Cheering the U.S. Jobs Report - Business Insider:
The FOMC Is Expected to Announce QE4 On Wednesday-Here's What You Need to Know - Associated Press:
Fed to Launch New Bond Buying Program to Ease Fiscal Cliff Fears - CNN Money:
Stocks: Eyes on Washington and the Fed
Tags: federal open market committee, Federal Reserve, fomc definition, fomc interest rate, FOMC Meeting, fomc meeting schedule, FOMC members, fomc press release, FOMC rate decision, FOMC statement, QE4, QE4 definition, Quantitative Easing, quantitative easing 4, This week's FOMC Meeting, what is QE4