By Investing.com – The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points at its next policy meeting, according to The Wall Street Journal’s Nick Timiraos.
The Fed, which previously rolled out a jumbo 50-basis point reduction in September, is trying to determine where rates should settle following a series of hikes designed to quell elevated inflation, the WSJ said.
Friday’s US jobs report all but cemented expectations for a smaller rate cut. The economy added far fewer roles than anticipated in October, although the figures were impacted by devastating recent hurricanes and ongoing labor actions.
Nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 during the month, falling from a downwardly revised 223,000 in September. Economists had expected a reading of 106,000. Jobs growth for the prior two months was also revised lower, indicating that the labor market is gradually cooling.
Crucially, the Labor Department noted that it was the first survey collected since Hurricanes Helene and Milton smashed into the US Southeast, causing severe damage in the region. But officials were not able to say exactly how much the storms dented the jobs report.
Meanwhile, the overall unemployment rate came in at 4.1%, matching both the prior month’s rate and economists’ projections. Average hourly earnings also ticked up by 0.4% from a downwardly revised 0.3%.
The key federal funds rate now stands at a range of 4.75% to 5% following the half-point drawdown in September. Fed officials have said the outsized cut aimed to bolster labor demand during a time of waning inflationary pressures.
According to CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) closely-monitored FedWatch Tool, markets are currently pricing in a 99.7% chance the Fed will bring down borrowing costs by a quarter point. There is also an 81.5% probability the central bank will do the same again at its December gathering.
Investors are hoping the Fed’s statement and comments by Chair Jerome Powell will provide more insight into whether officials believe economic resilience will continue – and if they might cut rates more slowly as a result.