- The US Federal Reserve hiked rates by 75 bps.
- The AUD/USD spiked to fresh highs as a reaction, then tumbled towards the 1-hour 50-SMA.
- The US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference is to begin.
On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve raised rates by 0.75%, not as initially expected by market participants, as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell discounted a hike of that size. Nevertheless, the article published on Monday about the possibility of the Fed raising rates by the abovementioned size proved true. At the time of writing, the AUD/USD seesaws around the 0.6915-70 range as a reaction to the Fed’s monetary policy meeting.
Summary of the FOMC monetary policy statement
The FOMC stated its commitment to return inflation to the 2 percent target. They added that “inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic, higher energy prices, and broader price pressures.”
Regarding the US economic outlook, the Fed noted that the economic activity picked up after the negative reading in Q1. They added that the Fed would continue reducing its holdings, so the Quantitative Tightening (QT) began.
Also, in the same meeting, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee revealed the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), which showed that the Fed reduced its expectations for growth from 2.8% to 1.7%, while the unemployment rate would uptick to 3.7% from 3.5% projected in March.
Regarding their outlook about inflation, Fed officials expect the Core PCE at 4.3%, higher than the 4.1%, while the Federal Funds Rate by the end of 2022 is expected at 3.4%, 150 bps more elevated than the 1.9% projected in March.
It’s worth noting that the Federal Reserve expects another 50 bps hike in 2023, and then in 2024 would be the first-rate cut. Nevertheless, contrary to what the Bank of England (BoE) said in their last meeting, slashing growth to negative territory, the Fed appears optimistic.
AUD/USD 1-Hour Chart
Key Technical Levels
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD stabilizes near 1.0500, looks to post weekly losses
EUR/USD extended its daily decline toward 1.0500 in the second half of the American session, pressured by the souring market mood. Despite the bullish action seen earlier in the week, the pair remains on track to register weekly losses.
GBP/USD falls below 1.2150 as USD rebounds
Following an earlier recovery attempt, GBP/USD turned south and declined below 1.2100 in the second half of the day on Friday. The negative shift seen in risk mood amid rising geopolitical tensions helps the US Dollar outperform its rivals and hurts the pair.
Gold advances to fresh multi-week highs above $1,920
Gold extended its daily rally and climbed above $1,920 for the first time in over two weeks on Friday. Escalating geopolitical tensions ahead of the weekend weigh on T-bond yields and provide a boost to XAU/USD, which remains on track to gain nearly 5% this week.
Bitcoin could be an alternative to US-listed companies but not in the short term
Bitcoin has dipped below $27,000, adding to the subdued cryptocurrency market sentiment. While short-term price concerns persist, analysts predict a rebound based on historical figures.
Nvidia Stock Forecast: NVDA slips as Biden administration attempts to close AI chip loophole
Nvida's stock price opened marginally lower on Friday after Reuters reported that the Biden administration is attempting to close a loophole that allowed Chinese companies access to state-of-the-art computer chips used for AI.