Forex
Gold is approaching $4,500, buoyed by central bank purchases
Gold is hovering near the $4,500 resistance level, driven by massive central bank purchases and weakening expectations of U.S. rate hikes.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 25 jours
Fed: decisions, key rates and FOMC
The world's most powerful central bank. Its monetary policy decisions drive every market: forex, stocks, bonds, crypto, commodities. Real-time analysis of every FOMC meeting, dot plot and Powell speech.
What are the Fed and FOMC?
The Federal Reserve (Fed) is the central bank of the United States, created in 1913. Its dual mandate: price stability (2% inflation target) and full employment. It's fully independent from the US government in its monetary policy decisions.
Rate decisions are made by the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee), composed of 12 voting members: 7 Fed governors (including Chair Jerome Powell since 2018) + 5 regional Fed presidents. The FOMC meets 8 times per year.
Each meeting produces: (1) a Fed Funds rate decision (target range), (2) a statement, (3) a Powell press conference, (4) quarterly "dot plot" (members' rate projections). All four are market-moving.
How the Fed moves every market
When the Fed hikes rates: dollar up (more rewarding), stocks down (valuation multiple compression), existing bonds down (discounted vs new higher-yield ones), gold and crypto down (non-yielding assets disadvantaged).
When the Fed cuts rates: exact opposite. Classic "risk on" scenario.
In 2022-2023, the Fed hiked 525 bps in 16 months (most aggressive since Volcker in the 80s) to break post-Covid inflation. Result: S&P 500 -19% in 2022, dollar +10%, Bitcoin -65%. In 2024-2025, the Fed reversed to easing with 3 cumulative cuts of 100 bps — markets rallied.
2026 is a pivotal year: does the easing cycle continue, or does the Fed restart hikes against inflation rebounding with Trump tariffs? Every meeting counts.
How to read an FOMC statement efficiently
4 items to check in order for every meeting:
- Rate decision (hike, cut, hold) and target range. Compare to Bloomberg/Refinitiv consensus: surprise = violent move.
- Statement language. Keywords matter: "patient" vs "vigilant", "forward progress on inflation" vs "persistent". The market scrutinizes each phrase change from the previous statement.
- Dot plot (every 3 months): median rate projections of the 19 members for year-end, following year-end, long run. If the median shifts up → hawkish shift.
- Powell at press conference (30 min after statement release): this is often where the market really moves. Q&A reveals nuances the written statement omits.
Pro tip: wait 30 minutes after the conference before trading. Initial volatility can go either way, then the market digests and sets a clear direction.
Latest news on Fed: decisions, key rates and FOMC(20)
Économie
Gold Stabilizes as Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Anticipation of Employment Data Take Center Stage
Gold is treading water amid tensions in the Middle East, while traders are closely watching the upcoming U.S. jobs data to adjust their positions regarding the Fed.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a environ 1 mois
Économie
The Fed Keeps Rates Unchanged and Re-Ranks Three Stocks to the Top of the List
With key interest rates held steady, certain sectors are enjoying a newfound stability. Traders are reassessing profitable positions in a monetary environment that is stabilizing.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a environ 1 mois
Forex
Gold Falls Against the Dollar; All Eyes on the Fed
Gold is losing ground as the greenback remains strong. All eyes are on the Federal Reserve meeting.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a environ 2 mois
Forex
The market is waiting for the Fed and keeping a close eye on the $64,000 mark
Bitcoin remains above $64,000 as traders hold their breath ahead of the Fed's monetary policy meeting this week.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a environ 2 mois
Économie
Gold Surpasses $4,000 Amid Geopolitical Tensions
The price of gold has just surpassed the $4,000 mark. Tensions in the Middle East and expectations regarding the Fed's monetary policy are driving up the price of gold.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a environ 2 mois
Matières Premières
Gold Falls Back Below $4,000 Amid Tensions Over Iran and the Fed
Gold is losing ground and has fallen back below the symbolic $4,000 mark as tensions in the Middle East reignite inflation fears and dampen hopes for a rate cut by the Fed.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a environ 2 mois
Économie
EUR/USD Wipes Out Its NFP Gains Ahead of the U.S. CPI Release
The euro-dollar exchange rate has fallen back to 1.1437 after giving up its NFP gains. The market is holding its breath ahead of this week's U.S. inflation report.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 2 mois
Économie
Kevin Warsh promises the Fed will remain unyielding in the face of inflation
The Fed's new chair warns: zero tolerance for inflation above 2%. A clear signal to the markets, which had been anticipating easing.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 2 mois
Forex
The dollar is down for the week following the release of U.S. employment figures
Disappointing U.S. employment data is causing the dollar to fall and pushing back the prospect of another Fed rate hike. The EUR/USD is benefiting from this.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 2 mois
Économie
The Fed is expected to keep rates unchanged despite bets on a rate hike
UBS expects the Fed to hold rates steady despite market expectations of a rate hike. Kevin Warsh downplays the inflation risk, but traders remain hesitant.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 2 mois
Crypto
Bitcoin Holds Above $60,000 Despite ETF Redemptions
Bitcoin is holding steady above $60,000 as ETFs see massive outflows and expectations regarding the Fed weigh on market sentiment.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Économie
Gold Falls to a 7-Month Low Against the Dollar, Boosted by the Fed
Gold hits its lowest level since November 2025 following the Fed's hawkish signals. The dollar is taking advantage of this to dominate the foreign exchange market.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Forex
Gold Retreats Toward $4,000 as the Dollar Gains Ground
The yellow metal is losing ground under pressure from a dollar bolstered by expectations of monetary tightening by the Fed.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Économie
Citigroup Rules Out Fed Rate Cuts and Targets September 2026
The New York-based bank is revising its strategy in response to the Federal Reserve's tightening. The markets will have to wait until the fall of 2026 to see rates fall.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Forex
The dollar hits a two-month high against the yen, which is plummeting
The dollar is climbing to its highest level in two months as expectations of a Fed rate hike grow. The Japanese yen is taking a hit.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Forex
The dollar takes a breather following the historic peace agreement
The dollar has paused its rally following the announcement of a major peace agreement. The yen remains stable following the BoJ's rate hike.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Économie
U.S. inflation tops 4%, putting pressure on Bitcoin and gold
U.S. inflation has surpassed the 4% mark, and analysts predict increasing pressure on Bitcoin and gold. Nervous markets are anticipating a response from the Fed.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Économie
Gold falls as the Fed stands firm on interest rates
Gold has fallen 4% in 24 hours and dropped below $4,150 an ounce. The reason: the Fed’s continued restrictive monetary policy, which is weighing heavily on precious metals.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Économie
The dollar climbs to a two-month high as the Fed lies in wait
The dollar has reached its highest level since early April. Markets are now betting that the Federal Reserve will resume raising interest rates.
Rédaction ActuTradingil y a 3 mois
Frequently asked questions
When will the Fed cut rates?+
Nobody knows with certainty. Market consensus (CME fed funds futures) prices probabilities in real time. As of April 2026, the market anticipates 1 to 2 cuts by year-end 2026, conditional on inflation and employment trajectory. Check the FedWatch Tool for updated probabilities.
What's the difference between hawkish and dovish?+
Hawkish = anti-inflation stance, favors high rates. Dovish = anti-unemployment stance, favors low rates. Powell is historically considered centrist, with a dovish tilt in 2024-2025 after post-Covid disinflation.
What is Quantitative Tightening (QT)?+
QT is the Fed's balance sheet reduction: it lets holdings mature without reinvesting, pulling liquidity from the system. The opposite of QE (Quantitative Easing). From 2022-2024, the Fed reduced its balance sheet by ~$1.5 trillion via QT.
How do Fed decisions affect the CAC 40?+
Strongly and immediately. A hawkish Fed → strong dollar → weak euro → favorable exports for French CAC exporters (LVMH, Airbus, TotalEnergies). But also: US valuation multiples compressed → spillover to European valuations. Net effect: often CAC declines on surprise Fed hikes.
When are the 2026 FOMC meetings?+
8 meetings per year, typically 6 weeks apart. In 2026: January 28, March 18, April 29, June 17, July 29, September 16, November 4, December 16. March, June, September and December meetings include the dot plot and are the most anticipated.