Federal Reserve No rate hikes expected through 2023

　　 USonehundreddollarnotesareseeninthispicture.[Photo/Agencies]TheUSFederalReserveonWednesdaykeptinterestratesatnearzeroangprogramfornow,buying$120billioninbondspermonth—$80billioninTreasurysecurities,plus$"substantialfurtherprogress"towarditsdual-mandategoalsofmaximumemploymentandstablepricesbeforeitpullsbackonthepurchases."Wellbecarefullylookingahead,"FedChairmanJeromePowellsaidatanewsconferenceaftertheFedreleasedastatementfollowingtheconclusionofatwo-daypolicymeeting."Whenweseethatwereontrack"then"wellsayso,andwellsaysowellinadvanceofanydecisiontoactuallytaper."TheFedsaidinitsstatement:"Followingamoderationinthepaceoftherecovery,indicatorsofeconomicactivityandemploymenthaveturneduprecently,althoughthesectorsmostadverselyaffectedbythepandemicremainweak,"theFedsapitseasy-moneypoliciesinplaceunti,,,,,reversinglossesinearliersessions."TheFedstatementtodaywasmoreoptimisticthansomeexpected;theyraisedtheiroutlookforbotheconomicgrowthandthelabormarket,"saidDavidCarter,chiefinvestmentofficeratLenoxWealthAdvisorsinNewYork."Themarketsviewofthestatementisthatitwasfairlyoptimistic."Fedofficialsalsosaidtheyexpectstronger,,sparkedbygrowingvaccinationratesagainstCOVID-19andthe$—aswellasRepublicansinCongress—haveprojectedhigherinflationbecauseofthecombinationofCOVID-19vaccinationsacceleratingandreopeningtheeconomyandthestimuluspackagesignedbyPresidentJoeBidenlastweekthatput$1,durationTr,animportantbenchmarkthatinfluencesthecostofborrowingforcompaniesandhouseholdsalike,,,reflectingtheirexpectationsthatthisyear,butonlyslightlyabovethecentralbankslong-rungoalof2percent,nterestratesnearzerothrough2023,accordingtotheFed,w."Thestrongbulkofthecommitteeisnotshowingarateincreaseduringthisforecastperiod,"Powellsaid,andaddedthatthetimetotalkaboutreducingthecentralbanksassetpurchaseswas"notyet"."Indicatorsofeconomicactivityandemploymenthaveturneduprecently,althoughthesectorsmostadverselyaffectedbythepandemicremainweak,"theFedsaidinitsstatement."Inflationcontinuestorunbelow2percent."Hesaidatthenewsconferencethat"thepathaheadremainsuncertain"heywanttoseeajobmarketthatisbackatfullemployment,andinflationthatisslightlyabove2percen$120billioninbondspermonth,apolicymeanttokeepcreditcheapandhelpth。