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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Wednesday: FOMC Meeting

by Calculated Risk on 12/11/2012 08:52:00 PM

The FOMC will probably announce additional bond buying tomorrow that will start in January after the conclusion of Operation Twist. I don't expect the Fed to announce tomorrow a change to thresholds (using the unemployment rate and inflation) for the timing of the first Fed Funds rate hike.

On Sunday I posted a preview, and the September economic projections for review. The unemployment rate is lower than previously expected, but the other indicators are close.

Wednesday economic releases:
• At 7:00 AM ET, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the mortgage purchase applications index. Recently the Purchase Index has been showing more purchase activity.

• At 8:30 AM, Import and Export Prices for November. The consensus is a 0.4% decrease in import prices.

• At 12:30 PM, the FOMC statement will be released. With Operation Twist ending in a few weeks, the FOMC will probably announce additional policy accommodation that will start in January.

• At 2:00 PM, The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) participants' quarterly economic projections.

• At 2:15 PM, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke holds a press briefing following the FOMC announcement.