US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Wall Street awaits Fed’s big decision: 25 bps or 50 bps rate cut?
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), chaired by Jerome Powell, is set to announce its latest policy decision today, concluding its two-day meeting held on September 16–17.
Markets widely anticipate that the central bank will deliver its first interest rate cut of 2025, lowering the benchmark rate by 25 basis points.
The expectation comes on the back of weakening US economic indicators, particularly in the labour market, which have intensified calls for easier monetary policy.
What are the expectations?
At its previous meeting, the Fed kept rates unchanged in the 4.25%–4.50% range, marking the fifth consecutive decision to hold steady over the past nine months.
That cautious stance allowed policymakers to assess the effects of elevated tariffs and persistent inflationary pressures.
This time, however, conditions have shifted. A softening job market and signs of economic slowdown have strengthened forecasts for a rate reduction.
Trump vs Powell
Adding to the pressure is President Donald Trump, who has been openly urging the Fed to slash borrowing costs. Earlier this week, Trump predicted a “big cut,” telling reporters, “It’s perfect for cutting.”
Trump has repeatedly pressed Powell to lower rates and has even suggested he step down if unwilling to do so. Despite this political heat, the Fed has so far resisted rushing into rate cuts, choosing instead a measured, data-driven approach.
Live Updates
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Check Live Coverage on US Fed Rate Cut, Interest Rate Cut Decision Today
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: How to watch Powell’s speech?
Investors and individuals worldwide can watch Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s address on the official Federal Reserve website or via the Fed’s YouTube channel.
Jerome Powell’s press conference is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. (EST). For those in India eager to hear his announcement, the broadcast will start at midnight (IST), following the release of the FOMC’s policy decision at 11:30 p.m. (IST).
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Who will be voting at the meeting?
The ones who are voting at the meeting include Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Vice Chair John Williams (president of the New York Fed), Governor Michelle Bowman (Vice Chair for Supervision), Governor Michael Barr, Governor Philip Jefferson, Governor Christopher Waller, Boston Fed President Susan Collins, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem, Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid, Stephen Miran.
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Will it be a 25bps or 50bps rate cut?
Most of the experts expect a 25 bps rate cut. “The Fed will deliver a 25bp cut on Wednesday, though there will likely be both dovish dissents preferring a larger 50bp move, and hawkish dissents preferring to hold rates steady. Given those divisions, Powell is likely to emphasise optionality and the post-meeting press conference, while the updated dot plot should again point to a total of 50bp easing this year,” says Michael Brown Senior Research Strategist at Pepperstone, told Alliance News.
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Fed’s rate cut likely as labour market weakens
During the Fed’s FOMC meeting on July 25, Chairman Powell indicated that future policy decisions would depend on labour market conditions. Recent data, however, reveals a slowdown in hiring, rising unemployment claims, and an increasing unemployment rate, which has led investors to anticipate a quarter-point interest rate cut.
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Current US interest rates
In its most recent meeting, the US Federal Reserve opted to maintain the key benchmark interest rates, leaving them unchanged at 4.25% to 4.5%.
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Stephen Miran to vote on interest rate decisions
On Monday night, the Senate confirmed Stephen Miran, President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, to the Federal Reserve’s influential Board of Governors. He was sworn in the following morning. He is expected to vote on interest rate decision
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Experts expect 25bps rate cut
“We believe Wednesday’s expected 25 basis point cut is the start of a cutting cycle for the simple reason that the Fed is pivoting from a more restrictive policy stance to a stimulative one in response to a cooling employment picture,” Chris Brigati, chief investment officer at SWBC, said in an email to CNN
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: Market opens flat ahead of Fed policy decision
Wall Street’s main indices opened flat ahead of the Federal Reserve’s anticipated policy decision.
Market expectations are high that Jerome Powell will announce a 25bps rate cut later today.
In the early hours of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) gained 20.5 points, or 0.04%, reaching 45,778.4. The S&P 500 (.SPX) dipped 1.9 points, or 0.03%, to 6,604.87, while the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) saw a minimal decline of 0.9 points, remaining nearly unchanged at 22,333.016.
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: August CPI data
The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 2.9 per cent in August, up 0.2 per cent from July’s 2.7 per cent increase. This was the largest single-month rise in inflation since January.
US Fed FOMC Meeting Live Updates: What does US job data indicate?
Recent data indicates that US unemployment increased to 4.3% in August, up from 4.2% in July. Job growth also slowed, with only 22,000 jobs added in August, a sharp decline from 79,000 in July. Additionally, the US economy created 911,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months leading up to March, falling short of expectations.