
0

0
The Fed Clarifies Its Stance On Growth and Inflation
Wed, Nov 21 2007, 10:49 GMT
by Mark Vitner
Wachovia
The minutes from the October 30/31 Federal Open Market Committee released meeting this afternoon show that the decision to cut the federal funds rate a quarter percentage point to 4.50 percent was, as we suspected, a close call. The Fed’s analysis of current economic conditions showed a great deal of concern about the potential negative spillover from the ongoing housing correction to other parts of the economy. The Fed noted, however, that “there was scant evidence” of such a spillover so far.
Our interpretation of the Fed’s rate cut on October 31 was that this was the last rate cut the Fed would make in anticipation of slower growth. The Fed may very well cut rates again but they will need to see some actual evidence that the ongoing contraction in the housing sector is spreading to other areas of the economy. In the three weeks since the October 31 meeting, there has been very little economic news that would support that case. Nonfarm employment came in well above expectations and retail sales also held up relatively well. About the only soft spots were a 0.5 percent drop in industrial production and a slight rise in weekly first-time unemployment claims.
Published on
Wed, Nov 21 2007, 10:50 GMT
Wachovia Corporation
| P.O. Box 025383 Miami, FL 33102-5383
http://www.wachovia.com | sam.bullard@wachovia.com
Legal disclaimer and risk disclosure
The information and opinions herein are for general information use only. Wachovia Corporation and its affiliates, including Wachovia Bank, N.A., do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness, nor does Wachovia Corporation or any of its affiliates, including Wachovia Bank, N.A., assume any liability for any loss that may result from the reliance by any person upon any such information or opinions. Such information and opinions are subject to change without notice, are for general information only and are not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sales of any security or any foreign exchange transaction, or as personalized investment advice. Securities and foreign exchange transactions are not FDIC-insured, are not bank-guaranteed, and may lose value.
Note: All information on this page is subject to change. The use of this website constitutes acceptance of our
user agreement. Please read our
privacy policy and legal disclaimer.
Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts.
Opinions expressed at FXstreet.com are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of FXstreet.com or its management. FXstreet.com has not verified the accuracy or basis-in-fact of any claim or statement made by any independent author: errors and Omissions may occur.
Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices or other information contained on this website, by FXstreet.com, its employees, partners or contributors, is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. FXstreet.com will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation to, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information.
©2008 "FXstreet.com. The Forex Market" All Rights Reserved.