Fed pivot on the horizon

Given the signals and tone of the Fed, it is likely that the FFR will be cut by 50 bps this year. — Reuters

SINCE the start of the year, the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) rate cut expectations have been a guessing game for the longest time as the Fed has maintained the current rate of between 5.25% and 5.50% for the past 12 months and counting.

The last rate hike of 25 basis points (bps) took the US Fed Fund Rate (FFR) to its highest level since 2001, bringing the cumulative interest rate increase to 5.25% from the floor level of 0.00% to 0.25%, carried out over a period of 16 months.