The Federal Reserve buys and sells securities and sets interest rates to influence: borrowing costs, lending activity, inflation and employment; to varying effects.
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Last week, the Fed added $1bn net to its Treasury security holdings and trimmed $14.4bn net from its MBS holdings. The total amount of Reserve Bank credit decreased by $14.5bn net.
- The 10-year Treasury yield rose by 11bp to 2.93%.
- The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose by 17bp to 5.27.
- The market expects the federal funds rate to hit 300-325bp by year-end. This was 275-300 last week.
- Increases in the all civilian employment cost index are accelerating. Last quarter, employment costs were up 5.8% on an annualised basis. With real GDP per person in decline and wage rises accelerating, inflation is sinking deep roots into the U.S. economy.
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The Federal Reserve buys & sells securities
sources: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
And sets interest rates
source: CME Group Inc.
To influence: borrowing costs
source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Lending activity
source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Inflation & employment
source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
To varying effects
*money multiplier is calculated as M2÷monetary base. The pre-GFC average (1958-2007) was 8.9. sources: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Valuabl