The market’s expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates held steady after the publication of minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's January meeting. Traders are still expecting an extended pause on rate cuts with the next quarter-point reduction coming in July,

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies before the Senate Banking Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Feb. 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Participants indicated that, provided the economy remained near maximum employment, they would want to see further progress on inflation before making additional adjustments,” minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s Jan.

Federal Reserve officials at a meeting last month pointed to rising risks that inflation could worsen, a key reason they kept their benchmark interest rate unchanged

Federal Reserve officials indicated last month that they needed to see “further progress on inflation” before any new interest rate cuts, as the US central bank kept monetary policy steady in the face of high uncertainty over the outlook.

The Fed, citing elevated inflation pressures, held short-term interest rates steady at a range of 4.25% to 4.5% at its January meeting.