#FOMCMeeting The FOMC Meeting (Federal Open Market Committee Meeting) is a periodic meeting of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, during which monetary policies of the country are discussed and decided, particularly interest rates. These meetings occur about eight times a year and profoundly influence global financial markets. Investors closely watch the decisions and final statements of the FOMC, as they provide indications of the state of the economy and the future direction of monetary policy. An increase in rates tends to strengthen the dollar, while a cut can stimulate the economy but weaken the currency.