Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decision: Live Updates Now

Policymaker cut their influential benchmark rate when the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee concluded its meeting today.

Federal Reserve officials voted to cut their influential federal funds rate by a quarter of a point to a range of 4.50%-4.75%. You can follow along with Investopedia's live coverage of the Fed's decision, Chair Jerome Powell's subsequent press conference, and economists' reactions.

Watch Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference here and follow along with Investopedia's coverage below.

Federal Reserve Cuts Its Influential Interest Rate By A Quarter-Point

6 minutes ago

In a widely expected move, the Federal Reserve trimmed its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point on Thursday.

In a unanimous vote, the Fed's policy committee lowered its fed funds rate to a range of 4.5%-4.75%, its lowest level since March 2023. The cut is designed to reverberate throughout the economy, lowering borrowing costs on credit cards, auto loans and other debt.

Markets Await the Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decision

23 minutes ago

The U.S. stock market stuttered slightly in the early afternoon as investors await the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. 

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were up 0.6% and 1.2% respectively, down slightly from their earlier highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.7% from its previous close.

Following Donald Trump's win in the presidential election, the major indexes turned in their best one-day performances since 2022 on Wednesday.

Follow along with the stock market's reaction to the Fed's decision here.

What Happened At The Last FOMC Meeting?

42 minutes ago

If the Fed cuts its benchmark rate today, it will be only the second time since 2020.

In its most recent meeting in September, the committee cut the fed funds rate by 50 basis points for the first time in four years. The move kicked off what is expected to be a campaign of rate cuts designed to lower the cost of borrowing and stimulate the economy.

The move surprised some Fed watchers and not every policymaker was on board with the decision. Fed Governor Michelle Bowman voted for a smaller cut of 25 basis points.

Read more about the Federal Reserve's last meeting here.

What to Expect From the Federal Reserve's November Meeting

1 hr 7 min ago

Investors and economists are holding Federal Reserve officials at their word for their November meeting.

In speeches ahead of a "blackout period" beginning Oct. 26, Fed officials indicated that gradual interest rate cuts over the next few months were in order, and none of the major economic data released since then have been surprising enough to shake up that perception, economists say.

That's left economists and traders confident that the Federal Reserve will lower its benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter-point when it makes a decision on Thursday.

Read more about what to expect from today's meeting here.