Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

Bank boards might see less directives from the Federal Reserve if Jerome Powell has his way. The Federal Reserve Governor would like to allow banks’ board of directors to spend more time worrying about management and less time on day to day tasks. He also acknowledges the industry’s frustration with the lack of transparency in the CCAR, and would like to amend it to make it more efficient and effective.

The Federal Reserve will release the minutes of its April meeting on Wednesday afternoon, and if industry experts are on track, they could point to another rate hike on the horizon. Regional Federal Reserve Presidents Neel Kashkari, Robert Kaplan and James Bullard have all weighed in on the issue. The Fed previously raised rates from 0.75 points to 1 in March.

Despite sluggish economic growth in Q1 and the widely held assumption that the Fed would raise rates at least two more times this year, the Federal Open Market Committee opted to keep the federal funds rate as is at its May meeting. Raised in March, the rate currently sits at 1 percent. The Committee cited job gains and lower unemployment as factors in its decision.

Before the Federal Reserve Meeting on March 14, Federal reserve Head Janet Yellen announced the possibility of federal rate increases.

Citing a slowly strengthening economy, the Federal Reserve decided against changing interest rates at their Wednesday meeting.

The low interest rate environment, which has been the Fed’s mode of operation for much of the last decade, has been instrumental in stabilizing the U.S. financial system. But if it continues, it could adversely affect financial institutions, according to a Fed Governor.

According to the Federal Open Market Committee, participants expect the economy to continue to expand at a moderate pace and for the labor market to strengthen further, but uncertainty lingers among FOMC members as to the new administration's fiscal policy.

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds target rate by 25 basis points—just like last December. Unlike last December, when mortgage interest rates subsequently plummeted down to near record lows seen in 2012, this time rates have gone the other direction.

The new rule is designed to strengthen the resiliency of the largest bank holding companies and improve the prospects of an orderly resolution for a failed bank, according to the Fed.

For the first time in a year and only the second time in a decade, the Federal Open Market Committee raised the federal funds target rate. What implications does the Fed rate hike have for housing going forward?