|

FOMC Chairman Powell testimony: Baseline outlook for US economy remains favourable

In remarks prepared for delivery to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress on Wednesday, Jerome Powell, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, will reiterate that the baseline outlook for the US economy remains favourable and say that the monetary policy is likely to remain appropriate as long as incoming data broadly remains consistent with the Fed's economic outlook.

These remarks don't seem to be having a noticeable impact on the greenback's valuation with the US Dollar Index clinging to modest daily gains above the 98.30 mark. Below are some additional takeaways, per Reuters.

"If developments cause a material reassessment in the Fed's outlook, the central bank will respond accordingly."

"The Fed sees a sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labour market and inflation near symmetric 2% goal as most likely."

"Noteworthy risks to the US economic outlook remain."

"Sluggish economic growth abroad, trade developments pose ongoing risks."

"Persistent below-target inflation could lead to slide in longer-term inflation expectations."

"Level of vulnerabilities in the financial system at a moderate level."

"Investor appetite for risk elevated in some asset classes."

"Core of the financial sector appears resilient."

"Sustained expansion likely for the US economy."

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD remains offered below 1.1600, seems vulnerable near multi-month low

The EUR/USD pair struggles to capitalize on the overnight bounce from the 1.1530 region, or the lowest level since November 2025, and lower for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. Spot prices slide back below the 1.1600 mark during the Asian session and seem vulnerable to slide further.

GBP/USD slips below key averages as geopolitical risks mount

GBP/USD fell about 0.35% on Tuesday, settling around 1.3350 after slipping below the 200-day Exponential Moving Average for the first time since early December. The pair has pulled back sharply from its late-January high near 1.3870, shedding over 500 pips in a series of lower highs and lower lows. 

Gold bounces back toward $5.200 amid sustained safe-haven flows

Gold bounces back toward $5,200 in Wednesday's Asian session, moving away from an over one-week low. Sustained safe-haven flows, amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, act as a tailwind for the bullion. However, a bullish US Dollar and reduced bets for more aggressive easing by the US Fed might keep a lid on the non-yielding yellow metal ahead of the US ADP report and ISM Services PMI data due later in the day.

Ethereum: Whales step up buying as short positions contract

After holding firm heading into the last weekend, Ethereum whales have returned to action, pouncing on the volatility stemming from escalating military actions between the US and Iran.

Energy shock 2.0: Why rising Gas prices could hit the Euro

Even without a confirmed, sustained disruption, the mere risk to a key global energy chokepoint is enough to inject a significant premium into European Gas markets. And for the Euro, that matters.

Ripple falters amid sell-off jitters and negative funding rates

Ripple (XRP) has come under pressure, drifting lower to $1.35 at the time of writing on Tuesday. The over 2% correction looks poised to erase the previous day’s gains, which lifted the remittance token to $1.42.