Fed’s Daly sees no evidence for preemptive rate hikes, supports current policy

Mary Daly, president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve, stated that she does not see evidence supporting preemptive rate hikes at this time. Daly’s comments suggest that the Federal Reserve’s current policy is appropriate, aligning with her previous statements about the policy being in a “good place.” These remarks follow the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) decision to maintain the target range of 3.50% to 3.75% during the July 2026 meeting. The minutes from that meeting indicated that while some officials were open to a rate hike if inflation remained high, the majority favored holding rates steady. Key Takeaways Daly’s comments appear consistent with a scenario where the Federal Reserve maintains its current policy stance without immediate rate hikes. Market pricing suggests a decreased likelihood of a rate hike by the September 2026 FOMC meeting, currently at 26% for a hike. Daly’s statement is consistent with maintaining the current policy, as reflected in the 73.5% probability for a pause in the next three decisions. What to Watch Watch for any changes in economic indicators such as inflation or unemployment that could influence the Federal Reserve’s policy decisions...