Fed Holds Rates Steady as Middle East Conflict Clouds Inflation Outlook 
China Holds Benchmark Loan Prime Rate Steady for Tenth Consecutive Month 
Bank of Japan Unveils New Inflation Gauge to Support Case for Future Rate Hikes 
Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now: AABB, GOLD, GDX 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
RBA Set to Hike Rates Again Amid Inflation Surge and Global Uncertainty 
Goldman Sachs Delays Bank of England Rate Cut Forecast Amid Middle East Inflation Risks 
FOMC followed through its promise and hiked rates four times in 2018 and forecasted two more rate hikes for 2019. Current Federal funds rate - 225-250 bps (Note, all calculations are based on data as of 25th February)
- March 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 94.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 5.2 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- May 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 3.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 91.2 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 5 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- June 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 6.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 88.4 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 4.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- July 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 6.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 88.4 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 4.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- September 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 6.7 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 86.5 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 6.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- October 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 8.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 86.6 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 4.7 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- December 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 12.5 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 83 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 4.5 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
The probability is suggesting,
- Since our last review a week ago, the probabilities have somewhat eased.
- The market is pricing just one rate hike for 2019 and that with just 4.5 percent probability, compared to a 1.8 percent a week ago and 0 percent in the week before that, which means that the market is far from pricing a rate hike in 2019, despite Fed’s forecast of two hikes.
- The market is now pricing a rate cut in 2019 with 12.5 percent probability, compared to 11.6 percent a week ago, and 19.5 percent probability, a week before that.
