AFP, Washington :
The US Federal Reserve is expected to raise the benchmark lending rate on Wednesday but to accompany that with a strong sign it will hold off on future increases.
But the outcome of the two-day monetary policy meeting is perhaps the most uncertain of any in the past decade. A remarkably low 72 percent of market participants expect an increase in the federal funds rate which is used to set the cost of borrowing for everything from homes to cars.
The move seems certain to anger President Donald Trump who has attacked the Fed repeatedly on Twitter for even considering going ahead with the fourth hike this year in the federal funds rate.
But with increasing signs the US economy may have peaked causing stock markets to crumble in recent weeks, what analysts and investors are looking for is confirmation the central bank will stand on the sidelines for a time.
The US Federal Reserve is expected to raise the benchmark lending rate on Wednesday but to accompany that with a strong sign it will hold off on future increases.
But the outcome of the two-day monetary policy meeting is perhaps the most uncertain of any in the past decade. A remarkably low 72 percent of market participants expect an increase in the federal funds rate which is used to set the cost of borrowing for everything from homes to cars.
The move seems certain to anger President Donald Trump who has attacked the Fed repeatedly on Twitter for even considering going ahead with the fourth hike this year in the federal funds rate.
But with increasing signs the US economy may have peaked causing stock markets to crumble in recent weeks, what analysts and investors are looking for is confirmation the central bank will stand on the sidelines for a time.
