Treasuries had lost considerable ground in the last week. The oversold condition led to a healthy rebound this morning and the anticipated Fed decision provided the trigger for an additional surge this afternoon. The story on stocks was just the opposite. Following a string of gains, the indices suffered steep declines in today's trading action.
In late trading, the 10-Year Treasury Note was up by 1-16/32, lowering its yield to 3.97%; the Dow was down by 294.26 points to 13,432.77; and the Nasdaq was down by 66.60 points to 2,652.35.
As expected, the Fed cut its target for the overnight borrowing rate between banks (federal funds rate) and the rate for loans by the Fed to banks (discount rate) by 0.25% today, pushing them down to 4.25% and 4.75%, respectively.
The statement explains the action: "incoming information suggests that economic growth is slowing, reflecting the intensification of the housing correction and some softening in business and consumer spending. Moreover, strains in financial markets have increased in recent weeks. Today?s action, combined with the policy actions taken earlier, should help promote moderate growth over time."
There were no indications in the statement that the Fed would not cut rates again at the next policy meeting scheduled for the 29th and 30th of January. In fact, the only dissenting vote against today's decision came from Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren who wanted a deeper cut to the fed funds rate of 0.50%
The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to lower its target for the federal funds rate 25 basis points to 4-1/4 percent.
Incoming information suggests that economic growth is slowing, reflecting the intensification of the housing correction and some softening in business and consumer spending. Moreover, strains in financial markets have increased in recent weeks. Today's action, combined with the policy actions taken earlier, should help promote moderate growth over time.
Readings on core inflation have improved modestly this year, but elevated energy and commodity prices, among other factors, may put upward pressure on inflation. In this context, the Committee judges that some inflation risks remain, and it will continue to monitor inflation developments carefully.
Recent developments, including the deterioration in financial market conditions, have increased the uncertainty surrounding the outlook for economic growth and inflation. The Committee will continue to assess the effects of financial and other developments on economic prospects and will act as needed to foster price stability and sustainable economic growth.
Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman; Timothy F. Geithner, Vice Chairman; Charles L. Evans; Thomas M. Hoenig; Donald L. Kohn; Randall S. Kroszner; Frederic S. Mishkin; William Poole; and Kevin M. Warsh. Voting against was Eric S. Rosengren, who preferred to lower the target for the federal funds rate by 50 basis points at this meeting.
In a related action, the Board of Governors unanimously approved a 25-basis-point decrease in the discount rate to 4-3/4 percent. In taking this action, the Board approved the requests submitted by the Boards of Directors of the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, and St. Louis.
