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Fed seen renewing low rates, extended period vow

06:04, 1969-Dec-31 .. 0 comments .. Link

Fed seen renewing low rates, extended period vow Fed seen renewing low rates, extended period vow (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates #xnear zeroGrow lights at a meeting on Tuesday and renew its pledge to keep borrowing costs very low for a long time, but could note a brightening economic picture and hint at being closer to dropping the vow.

Analysts widely expect the central bank to say again that high unemployment and low inflation warrant holding borrowing costs "exceptionally low" for "an extended period."

The Fed has held benchmark rates near zero since December 2008 to cushion the economy and help it recover from the most severe financial crisis in generations.

The Fed's statement is expected around 2:15 p.m. EDT

Economic recovery has shown signs of growing, if uneven, momentum in recent weeks, and markets will look closely at how the Fed characterizes the outlook for any signs that policy-makers may modify the low rate promise at the central bank's April meeting.

The Fed could acknowledge gains in retail sales and signs labor market Grow lightscarnage continues to ease. Indications that consumers -- a primary driver of the world's largest economy -- are starting to participate in the recovery would be an important harbinger of recovery.

The Fed's Beige Book summary of economic conditions around the country, based on data collected through late February, said economic activity strengthened modestly across most of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts.

Still, Senior Fed officials have said in recent appearances that the recovery continues to be tepid and suggested rate increases are far off.

"Notwithstanding#x the positive signs, the job market remains quite weak,State Flags," BernankeGrow lights said in semi-annual monetary policy testimony before Congress February 25. 相关的主题文章：