Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell discussed the central bank’s decision to hold the benchmark federal-funds rate at its current range around 4.3% after three consecutive rate cuts beginning in September,

During the disorienting flurry of Trump's executive orders, Fed Chair Powell issued an edict of his own. He's defending the borders of his job's mandate.

Jerome H. Powell has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) since May 25, 2012, appointed by then-President Barack Obama to fill an unexpired term. He was reappointed by Obama and sworn in on June 16, 2014, for a term that expires on Jan. 31, 2028.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that while there is a lot of uncertainty about the outlook right now, the U.S. economy is still in a good place and the current situation isn’t as dire as it was at times such as the Covid-19 pandemic or the 2008 global financial crisis.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is taking questions from journalists after the central bank held interest rates steady following three consecutive cuts at the end of 2024.

Central bank policymakers are widely expected to stand pat on interest rates. Investors await further details from Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference.

Last month, Fed officials signaled they expect just two rate cuts for all of 2025, a shallower path of reductions than previously anticipated. Policymakers will update their projections on the economy and rates at their next meeting in March. This month’s pause in rate cuts comes amid increasing uncertainty about how inflation will evolve.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said “we do not need to be in a hurry to adjust our policy stance” and monetary policy is “well positioned” for the challenges at hand.

Outside of a U.S. President bending norms, the Fed also faces challenges in achieving its economic objectives. Inflation remains above its 2% target: Its preferred measure is at 2.4%, though core prices — considered a better gauge of where inflation is headed — rose 2.8% in November from a year ago.

Fed officials want downward pressure on the economy to ensure inflation cools to 2 per cent target. Read more at straitstimes.com.

U.S. interest rate cycles are driven largely by how restrictive or accommodative the Federal Reserve thinks monetary policy is. And right now, the picture is confusing. After the Fed kept rates steady on Wednesday,