At a meeting with Congress on Wednesday, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen reiterated the Fed's plan to raise interest rates in the months ahead.
But her words also showed a hint of doubt.
Yellen discussed several concerns about the economy that could make the Federal Reserve hesitate on the timing of rate hikes. She also reemphasized the Fed's willingness to experiment with controversial monetary policy tools, including negative interest rates.
At a meeting with Congress on Wednesday, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen reiterated the Fed's plan to raise interest rates in the months ahead.
But her words also showed a hint of doubt.
Yellen discussed several concerns about the economy that could make the Federal Reserve hesitate on the timing of rate hikes. She also reemphasized the Fed's willingness to experiment with controversial monetary policy tools, including negative interest rates.
Markets delivered a resounding Bronx cheer to the Federal Reserve on Friday after that confederacy of dunces failed to raise interest rates at its highly anticipated, two-day September meeting.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged by 290 points (1.74%), while the S&P 500 followed by 32 points (1.62%), and the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped by 67 points (1.32%).
On the week, the Dow lost only 49 points, or 0.3%, to close at 16,384.79, while the S&P 500 shed only 3 points, or 0.2%, to end at 1,958.03. Both indices remain down on the year.
The U.S. Federal Reserve began its two-day September meeting this morning (Wednesday), and investors are wondering whether Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen will decide to raise interest rates now.
And even though we're just a day away from Janet Yellen's press conference - which will take place Thursday at 2:00 p.m. - we're still in the dark about whether an interest rate hike is coming.
Here's what investors need to know now...
The central bank circus was on full display this week as the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee held a two-day meeting only to emerge with another mind-numbing series of excuses for keeping interest rates at zero when the economy is not in crisis.
One such claim was that inflation (as measured by economists) is insufficiently high, despite the fact that the price of real-world goods and services (including gasoline again) are steadily rising. The Fed stated that it's afraid raising interest rates - for the first time in nine years by all of 25 basis points - could send the economy into a tailspin. That isn't only bad policy, it is pathetic.
Perhaps it is time we learned this one vital lesson...
The DJIA Index added 33 points Friday to end a four-day losing streak. The cause? Biotech and healthcare stocks rebounded to pull markets upward as investors search for value after this week's sell-offs.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen gave a speech on monetary policy in San Francisco 15 minutes before the closing bell. Yellen indicated that rate increases this year are likely, but the pace will be gradual.
Here are the other top stories from today, plus our new profit tip...
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen delivered the semiannual Monetary Policy Report Tuesday morning before the House of Representatives. This was Yellen's first public address since assuming the role as head of the U.S. central bank after predecessor Ben Bernanke on Feb. 3, 2014.
Yellen, who until last week served as vice chair of the Fed, testified on the health of the U.S. economy, her commitment to the central bank's ongoing stimulus efforts, and regulatory needs for the financial system.
The full text of Yellen's remarks follows.
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