Fed signals caution despite third straight policy cut
Markets
The Fed cut its policy rate for the third consecutive meeting by 25 bps yesterday to 3.5%-3.75%. The Fed still has to balance a weakening labour market against somewhat elevated inflation. There was again no consensus within the FOMC on how to address these opposing factors, as one member (Stephen Miran) voted for a 50 bps cut, but two others (Schmid and Goolsbee) wanted to keep the policy rate unchanged. The dots even showed a total of 6 out of 19 members in favour of the status quo. The median Federal Funds Rate projection for 2026 and 2027 remained unchanged at respectively 3.25%-3.5% and 3%-3.25%. Fed chair Powell indicated that the policy rate now is “within the range of plausible neutral estimates”, allowing the Fed to assess incoming data, with a January rate cut seen as rather unlikely. However, part of Powell’s analysis allowed the market to consider a less hawkish interpretation. PCE inflation forecasts for this (2.9% from 3%) and next (2.4% from 2.6%) faced downward revisions. Powell’s working hypothesis is still that most of the current elevated inflation was temporary due to higher goods prices driven by tariffs. Services inflation has been cooling. In addition, the Fed chair pointed at ongoing downside risks to the labour market, especially as current estimates on employment growth probably present an over-estimation. Markets responded to the “dovish” opening created by the labour market remarks. The US curve bull steepened, with yields declining between 7.7 bps (2-y) and -2.1 bps (30-y), assuming that the Fed focus remains slightly more tilted to maximum employment part of its dual mandate. An additional announcement to start buying T-bills (and other short-term Treasury securities) from next week on at a $40bn pace to maintain a situation of ample reserves added to the bull steepening move. By nearing neutral interest rate levels, the bar for additional rate cuts in early 2026 has been raised. Nevertheless, in case of weak (labour) market data next week and/or January, the debate on an additional precautionary rate cut might rapidly resurface. On other markets, equities rebounded yesterday with the Fed upwardly revising its growth forecasts, especially for next year (2.3% from 1.8% in September) and the Fed chair elaborating on ongoing high productivity gains supported. The combination of losing interest rate support and a risk rebound weighed on the dollar. DXY eased further from the 99.2 area early in the session to close at 98.79. EUR/USD closed just below the 1.17 big figure (1.1695).
Today’s eco calendar is thin, apart from weekly jobless claims. The Swiss national bank is expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at 0%. Even as Powell indicated that the Fed is now in a position to wait, we assume that both US yields and the dollar remain more sensitive to weaker than expected (labour market) data.
News and views
The Bank of Canada as expected kept the policy rate unchanged at 2.5%. Economic growth at a 2.6% annualized clip in Q2 was surprisingly strong, it said, but that was the result of a steep drop in imports. The BoC anticipates a weak Q4 number with the import normalizing hanging in the balance with a grow in domestic demand. Growth is forecast to pick up in 2026, although uncertainty remains high. The labour market is a similar “on the one hand, but on the other” narrative. after solid employment gains over the last three months. Inflation, 2.2% in October, should remain close to the 2% target with the BoC willing to look through some choppiness in the coming months. Underlying gauges hover around 2.5%. The central bank concludes that “the current policy rate at about the right level to keep inflation close to 2% while helping the economy through this period of structural adjustment.” Canadian swap yields fell up to 5 bps at the front. USD/CAD ended lower below 1.38 but that was mainly a US dollar move.
Brazil’s central bank left the policy rate at 15% and kept their view of an economy cooling while inflation, though still above the 3% target, is improving. They lowered CPI forecasts to hit 3.2% in 2027Q2 (from 3.3%), which is their relevant policy horizon for now. Risks remain symmetrical. The 15% level is considered “appropriate” to bring inflation to target, considered a slight dovish change compared to November’s “will be enough”. The Brazilian real’s strengthening over much of 2025 probably helps explain the downwardly adjusted CPI forecasts. But its recent weakening to a two month low of USD/BRL 5.47 warrants ongoing caution, meaning the 15% level may be the reference for the time being.
Author
KBC Market Research Desk
KBC Bank
