Washington: The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rate by 25 basis points, which is modest compared to previous hikes aimed at curbing inflation but came amidst uncertainty about the banking system that has taken a hit in the last few weeks triggering fears of a larger problem.
This hike takes the target rate in the 4.75 per cent to 5 per cent range, which is the highest since the start of the recession in September 2007.
The Fed did address concerns about the banking system in a statement. “The US banking system is sound and resilient,” it said. “Recent developments are likely to result in tighter credit conditions for households and businesses and to weigh on economic activity, hiring, and inflation. The extent of these effects is uncertain.”
There was speculation that the Fed might not raise the interest rate at the end of its two-day meeting this week in view of the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank and trouble at another bank because of rising interest rates, among other reasons. And that it will put on hold its battle against inflation to take stock.
Equally, experts had said, that if the Fed did not hike rates, it would send out an even more dire message: that there was a indeed a problem with the banking system, enough for the central bank to pause anti-inflation interest rate hikes.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) has urged the Pakistani authorities to "swiftly and impartially…
A total of 179 terrorist incidents were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met ASEAN Senior Officials in the national capital…
The Taiwan Ministry of National Defence (MND) on Friday said that the country is in…
Several human rights activists and Baloch leaders announced the launch of a social media campaign…
India and the Netherlands held the 12th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Thursday in Hague…