Fed officials continue signaling hawkish messages

San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly said on Monday that she is not prepared to say what hike the Fed should do at December’s Federal Open Market Committee. Daly insists that all options are available, so she is not taking anything off the table for December.

Daly believes that at some point, it will be the right decision to slow the rate hike pace. The overall hike beyond 5% is also an option if inflation data does not ease.

The US Dollar advanced against most major currencies on Monday due to fresh COVID-19 restrictions in China; triggering concerns over the global economic outlook and boosting the US dollar, which is seen as a safe haven in times of stress:

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said, on Monday, “it makes sense to slow down a bit the pace of rate hikes. Can now be very deliberate in setting policy”, adding that there is a need to be more judicious in balancing risks and there is “not anywhere near to stopping rate hikes though.

It seems that policymakers have had some good news on inflation front, but need more and sustained good news. Mester is also “grateful” that Fed’s policymakers have seen “some encouraging signs on inflation”, but like President Joe Biden, she believes that getting back to 2% will “take some time”.