Japan Declines Comment on BOJ’s Absence From Global Support Statement for Fed Chair Powell. Source: Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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FOMC increased interest rates again in December for the third time in 2017 and projected three more hikes in 2018. However, debates among policymakers are growing over hikes as inflation remains low. Charles Evans joined Neel Kashkari in opposing another hike in December. The market, however, started pricing the third hike in December. Let’s look at hike probabilities for the next 12 months. Current FOMC rate is at 125-150 basis points. (Note, all calculations are based on data as of 12th March)
- March 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 11.2 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, and 88.8 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent.
- May 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 10.5 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 84 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, and 5.5 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent.
- June 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 1.6 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 21.5 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, 72.2 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, and 4.7 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25.
- August 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 1.4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 19.5 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, 67.1 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 11.4 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, and 0.5 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent.
- September 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 0.5 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 8 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, 36.9 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 46.9 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 7.4 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 0.3 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- November 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 0.4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 6.8 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, 32.4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 45.3 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 13.6 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 1.4 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- December 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 0.2 percent probability that rates will be at 1.25-1.50 percent, 4.1 percent probability that rates will be at 1.50-1.75 percent, 21.4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 39.7 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 27.3 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, 6.7 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent, and 0.6 percent probability that rates will be at 2.75-3.00 percent.
The probability is suggesting,
- Since our last review a week ago, the probability has hardly changed.
- Next hike is priced in March with 88.8 percent probability, same as a week ago.
- The market brought forwarded the second hike for 2018 in June and pricing it with 76.9 percent probability same as a week ago.
- The market is pricing the third hike in December with 74.3 percent probability instead of 73.5 percent probability just a week ago.
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