China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
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Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
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Jerome Powell Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Trump Effort to Fire Fed Governor, Calling It Historic 
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate at 2.25% Amid Trade and Global Uncertainty 
Despite hawkish rhetoric from FOMC policy makers, the hike odds are declining fast across the meeting as the economic numbers continue to disappoint to the downside. In addition to that, some policymakers have expressed doubts over the third hike for the year. However, still, a majority of the policymakers are still hawkish on the hike outlook. In light of that, let’s take a look at the market pricing of hikes. The current interest rate is at 1.00-1.25 percent. (Note, all calculations are based on data as of 19th July)
- July 26th meeting: Market is attaching 97 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, and 3 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent.
. - September 20th meeting: Market is attaching 91.6 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, 8.2 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, and 0.2 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent.
- November 1st meeting: Market is attaching 89.8 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, 9.9 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, and 0.3 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent.
- December 13th meeting: Market is attaching 52.7 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, 42.9 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 4.3 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, and 0.1 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent.
- January 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 50.5 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, 43.3 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 5.9 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, and 0.3 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent.
- March 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 39.1 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, 44.9 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 14.3 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, and 1.7 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent.
- May 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 37.5 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, 44.7 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 15.6 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, 2.1 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, and 0.1 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent.
- June 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 30 percent probability that rates will be at 1.00-1.25 percent, 43.3 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 21.4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, 4.8 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, and 0.5 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent.
The probability is suggesting,
- There has been a lot of changes since our last review a week ago. Hike odds have diminished by 5-7percentage points across the board.
- The financial market is no longer pricing the third hike in December. Instead, the next hike is priced in March 2018 with 61 percent probability.
- We are currently expecting the third rate hike in December and the beginning of balance sheet trimming in September.
