FOMC increased interest rates in March and June and increased its forecast from three rate hikes in 2018 to four rate hikes. June decision was unanimous. Current Federal funds rate - 175-200 bps (Note, all calculations are based on data as of 20th August)
- September 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, and 96 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent.
- November 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, and 96 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent.
- December 2018 meeting: Market is attaching 1.2 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 32.6 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, and 66.1 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent.
- January 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 1.2 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 31.3 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 64.7 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 2.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent.
- March 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 0.6 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 17.3 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 49.2 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 31.6 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent, and 1.3 percent probability that rates will be at 2.75-3.00 percent.
- May 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 0.6 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 15.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 46.3 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 33.2 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent, and 4.1 percent probability that rates will be at 2.75-3.00 percent.
- June 2019 meeting: Market is attaching 0.4 percent probability that rates will be at 1.75-2.00 percent, 10.5 percent probability that rates will be at 2.00-2.25 percent, 35.6 percent probability that rates will be at 2.25-2.50 percent, and 37.8 percent probability that rates will be at 2.50-2.75 percent, 14.2 percent probability that rates will be at 2.75-3.00 percent, 1.5 percent probability that rates will be at 3.00-3.25 percent.
The probability is suggesting,
- Since our last review a week ago, the probabilities have eased for far months.
- The market is pricing the third hike for 2018 in September and pricing it with 96 percent probability compared to 93.6 percent a week ago.
- The market is pricing the fourth hike in December with 66.1 percent probability instead of 61.3 percent probability just a week ago.
- The first rate hike of 2019 is priced in June with 53.5 percent probability, instead of 50.9 percent probability just a week ago.