#FOMCMeeting
It seems like you're referring to **"FOMC Meeting,"** which stands for the **Federal Open Market Committee Meeting**. The FOMC is a branch of the **U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed)** that determines monetary policy, including interest rate decisions and other measures affecting the economy.
### **Key Points About FOMC Meetings:**
1. **Purpose**: The FOMC meets regularly to assess economic conditions and decide on monetary policy, particularly the **federal funds rate** (the interest rate banks charge each other for overnight loans).
2. **Frequency**: The FOMC meets **8 times a year** (approximately every 6 weeks).
3. **Key Decisions**:
- Interest rate changes (hikes, cuts, or holds).
- Guidance on future policy (forward guidance).
- Adjustments to bond-buying programs (quantitative tightening or easing).
4. **Economic Impact**:
- **Stock markets** often react sharply to FOMC announcements.
- **Bond yields and mortgage rates** can rise or fall based on Fed policy.
- **Currency markets** (e.g., the U.S. dollar) are influenced by rate decisions.
5. **Post-Meeting Communications**:
- **Policy Statement**: Released after each meeting.
- **Press Conference**: The Fed Chair (currently Jerome Powell) explains decisions.
- **Economic Projections**: Released quarterly (including the "dot plot," showing Fed officials' rate expectations).
### **Next FOMC Meeting (2024 Schedule Remaining):**
- **July 30–31, 2024**
- **September 17–18, 2024**
- **November 6–7, 2024**
- **December 17–18, 2024**
### **Current Focus (2024):**
- **Inflation vs. Growth**: The Fed is balancing inflation control (targeting 2%) with avoiding a recession.
- **Rate Cut Expectations**: Markets are anticipating potential rate cuts later in 2024 if inflation cools further.
