The Fed Raised Rates: What Happened to the Gold Price?

The Fed will monitor future events for policy plans

In a press conference following the release of the new decision, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said the committee will monitor future events in relation to its future decisions.

“In light of these uncertain headwinds coupled with the monetary policy tightening we have implemented, our future policy actions will depend on how events unfold.

“In determining the extent to which additional policy tightening may be appropriate to return inflation to 2 percent over time, the Committee will take into account cumulative monetary policy tightening, the lags with which monetary policy affects the economic activity and inflation, and economic and economic policy. financial developments,” he said.

Following a sharp rally that reached a price point value of nearly $2,030 shortly before the Fed’s announcement, the price of gold per ounce began to decline during the day.

As of 3:00 pm EST, gold was trading at $2,020.75 an ounce, up 0.3 percent year to date.

Asked if the market and investors should interpret today’s decision as meaning the Fed will hold off on a rate hike for its next meeting, Powell said that “the decision to pause was not made today.”

Instead, the president once again emphasized that the committee will monitor future events in making its decisions.

In previous statements, the Fed had indicated that it would continue to anticipate the use of rate increases as a way to combat inflation. As pundits begin to ponder the Fed’s next steps, signs point to some easing on future rate hikes.

However, the Fed still noted that inflation remains “elevated.”

“The most important thing is how they convey the potential for a pause down the road,” Collin Martin, fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab, told CNBC. “How do they do that while probably leaving the door a bit open? It will be a balancing act between suggesting there is a pause on the cards, but still depending on the incoming data should inflation pick up in the future.”

Fed comments on the current banking crisis

Chairman Powell opened his press conference with a banking update following the recent banking crisis in the US.

Powell said after a review In addition to events related to the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crisis, the Fed should work to prevent events like this in the future.

The review, led by Vice President of Supervision Michael S. Barr, criticized the Federal Reserve’s lack of action and understanding of the full scope of vulnerabilities associated with SVB.

“I agree and support your recommendations to address our supervisory rules and practices, and I am confident they will lead to a stronger and more resilient banking system,” Powell said in a statement.

Asked if the potential for bank M&A could increase or decrease stability in the banking market, Powell said having various sizes of banks is a positive and excellent system overall.

Powell said that buys of First Republic bank’s assets by JP Morgan was broadly positive, although policy dictates it’s probably not in the best interest of larger banks to grow further.

investor takeaway

The Fed’s next steps will be closely monitored as Chairman Powell has not committed to what lies ahead for regulators. However, as expectations of a pause in rate hikes continue to rise, investors will need to monitor the impact of upcoming financial events and how they might dictate what the Fed is likely to do next.