Mubasher: The Federal Reserve (Fed) is expected to maintain interest rates at 5.50% during its upcoming two-day monetary policy meeting, concluding on 20 March.
This expectation is supported by higher-than-expected inflation data and signs of improvement in the labour market, which could potentially lead to increased inflation, according to a report by Emirates NBD Research.
Furthermore, comments from Fed officials, including Chairman Jerome Powell, suggest a firm commitment to ensuring that inflation trends downward before considering any interest rate cuts, the report stated.
However, the report also anticipates three 0.25% rate cuts in 2024, with the first expected to occur during the June meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).
