U.S. Federal Reserve’s ‘hawkish hold’ leaves investors lacking clarity

NEW YORK – Investors searching for clarity from a newly led U.S. Federal Reserve were disappointed on Wednesday, warning that the central bank’s mixed messages on the outlook for interest rates could unsettle stocks and bonds and increase the risk of market volatility.

The Fed kept interest rates unchanged in a target range of 3.50% to 3.75%. The vote drew three dissents from the 12-member panel, leading analysts to characterize the decision as a “hawkish hold” that leaves the door open to future rate hikes.

With U.S. President Donald Trump’s new Fed chair, Kevin Warsh, abandoning the practice of holding investors’ hands through forward guidance, markets have entered a new paradigm. Investors are now combing through economic data for any signal of the Fed’s next move, a dynamic ‌that many ‌say could trigger sharper bouts of volatility.