Regional Fed Presidents Could Make a Blue Monday

The Federal Reserve holds a discount rate meeting on Monday.  There is some speculation that the 75 bp discount rate could rise.  At the September meeting, which is not the same at the FOMC meeting five of the 12 regional Federal Reserve banks voted into favor a raising the discount rate.  One favored cutting it. 

The economic data has generally strengthened since then.  The FOMC statement last month and the subsequent official comments have indicated that most officials appear on board with a December rate hike, barring a shock. 

The Federal Reserve holds a discount rate meeting on Monday.  There is some speculation that the 75 bp discount rate could rise.  At the September meeting, which is not the same at the FOMC meeting five of the 12 regional Federal Reserve banks voted into favor a raising the discount rate.  One favored cutting it. 

The economic data has generally strengthened since then.  The FOMC statement last month and the subsequent official comments have indicated that most officials appear on board with a December rate hike, barring a shock. 

Each of the regional Federal Reserve banks sets the discount rate subject to the review of the Board of Governors.  Despite reference to the discount window, to be clear, the discount rate is not a discount, but premium over the Fed funds rate.  Moreover, a bank does not go to a window to access the funds. 

We have argued, and the Fed’s Vice Chairman Fischer emphasized the point earlier this week, the Fed has done everything to avoid surprising the market with a rate hike.  Even if one thinks will ultimately decide not to hike next month, or does not think the Fed should hike, as the IMF among others have argued, a December hike would not be a surprise. 

A discount rate hike can be seen as a technical adjustment as part of the normalization process to have a wider spread between the Fed funds target and the discount rate.  Their proximity is another way to gauge the stance of the Federal Reserve.  However, for many, a hike in the discount rate would be a surprise, and could be a FOMC fait accompli for its December meeting.  It would steal potential Fed’s thunder and would needlessly be pre-committing the Fed. 

Over time, gradually more regional Fed banks have been favoring a discount rate hike.  Two banks clearly will most likely not support a discount rate hike:  Minneapolis, which wanted a cut in the discount rate in September, and Chicago, where President Evans has been on the record favoring no hike in December.  In September, it was the Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Kansas City, and Dallas, Federal Reserve banks that called for a discount rate hike.  Of the remaining banks, potential candidates to join the discount rate hike, Boston and Atlanta are possible. 

On balance, the Fed’s leadership likely would prefer not to disrupt or confuse with a discount rate hike next week.  Instead, hike the discount rate following lift-off.

Could the Fed Hike the Discount Rate on Monday? is republished with permission from Marc to Market