The Federal reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady this week, but investors will be closely watching comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell for clues about the future of monetary policy and its potential impact on the dollar and bitcoin (BTC) prices.
Little Urgency at the Fed
After three consecutive rate hikes,the Federal Reserve (Fed) has limited room to maneuver further. The CME FedWatch tool indicates a 96 percent probability that the Fed will maintain its current interest rate range of 3.5 to 3.75 percent. See the latest probabilities.
Several Fed officials have echoed this sentiment. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari recently told The New York Times that there’s no need to rush into further rate adjustments.
Powell’s remarks following the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will be scrutinized for signals about the Fed’s next steps. Analysts will be looking for indications of whether the central bank is leaning towards further tightening, a potential pause, or even a shift towards easing monetary policy later this year.
The dollar’s strength and Bitcoin’s price are both sensitive to changes in interest rate expectations. Higher rates typically boost the dollar,while lower rates can support risk assets like Bitcoin.
Investors are also watching key economic indicators, including inflation data and employment figures, for further clues about the health of the U.S.economy and the Fed’s likely response.
