Goldman Sachs Sees Fed Holding Interest Rates Steady Until 2027 
BOJ June Rate Hike Likely as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Middle East Tensions 
J.P. Morgan Sees Major Upside for Prysmian as Optical Fiber Prices Surge 
Jerome Powell Warns Against Politicizing the Federal Reserve, Defends Democratic Institutions 
Taiwan Central Bank Likely to Keep Interest Rates Unchanged Through 2027 
ECB Set to Raise Interest Rates as Energy Shock Fuels Eurozone Inflation Concerns 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
BOJ Raises Interest Rates to 1% as Inflation Pressures Persist 
South Korea Signals Possible Interest Rate Hike as Inflation Remains Elevated 
Today marks the close of the Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting; markets mostly anticipate the federal funds rate to be left steady at 3.5%–3.75%. Notwithstanding a series of rate reductions in late 2025, inflation remains over the Fed's 2% target, hence restricting room for more near-term easing. Although some experts even warn of a non-trivial possibility of further increases if price pressures persist, the basic assumption at this meeting is a stable policy position.
New projections will likely strengthen a "higher for longer" narrative. The new dot plot should only include limited cuts penciled in for 2026—perhaps only one movement down. Emphasizing a still-resilient economy battling with somewhat persistent inflation, the Fed's outlook projects GDP growth of roughly 2.3%, unemployment around 4.4%, and core PCE inflation roughly 2.5%.
Beyond the numbers, the focus will be on Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference and the Fed’s posture on its independence. The choice follows political pressure from President Trump for quicker, larger rate cuts, as well as investigations into Powell and the central bank. Powell is likely to highlight patience and data reliance, balancing indications of a softening labor market with persistent inflation, while markets pore over his remarks for any clues on a March move or a more hawkish shift.
