The Fed remains hawkish despite slowing down tightening

In Short

The unsurprising shift to a slower pace of tightening was the only dovish piece of news coming from the last Fed meeting of the year. FOMC members show a strong agreement on the need to raise rates further; the increase in the projected peak rate with respect to September, already anticipated, was stronger than what many (including us) expected.

Highlights:

  • The telegraphed 50 bps rise was followed by a strong and almost unanimous commitment to keep tightening. The FOMC projects a further 75bps tightening in 2023, to 5% to 5.25% peak (a 50-bps increase from what signalled in September), and plans cuts only the following year.
  • Yet the FOMC thinks that a “softish” landing is still possible. Growth projections for 2023 were scaled down, but the increase in expected unemployment is marginal. Inflation should end next year at 3.1% and go back to target only after 2025.
  • The Fed once again disappointed market’s hopes of a softening of its stance and the S&P lost 
    nearly 1% on the announcement.
     

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The Fed remains hawkish despite slowing down tightening
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