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Added on the 16/03/2016 16:56:23 - Copyright : AFP EN
The U.S. economy's readiness - or not - for an interest rate rise is likely to once again take the global economic spotlight in the coming week, just a month before the U.S. presidential election. And many will also be watching the British pound - which took a pasting last week. Ciara Lee reports.
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen says the Fed will keep the Federal Funds Rate at its current level, but says the case for an increase has strengthened. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
The US Federal Reserve holds interest rates at a 23-year high. "Today, the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged and to continue to reduce our securities holdings," announces US Fed Chair Jerome Powell. SOUNDBITE
The US Federal Reserve has voted to hold interest rates at a 22-year high for a second straight meeting. "Today we decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged," announces Fed chair Jerome Powell. SOUNDBITE
US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announces that the US Federal Reserve has voted to keep interest rates at a 22-year high, between 5.25 percent and 5.50 percent. SOUNDBITE
The US Federal Reserve is prepared to raise interest rates higher -- and hold them there -- in order to bring down elevated inflation. "We are prepared to raise rates further if appropriate, and intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we are confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward our objective," says Jerome Powell in a central banking conference in Wyoming. SOUNDBITE