Fed Meeting Breakdown, Taper Cometh

Last Week in Review: Fed Meeting Breakdown, Taper Cometh

Home loan rates ticked up and had a bit of a “taper tantrum” after the Fed meeting last Wednesday when Fed Chair Powell outlined the case to scale back or “taper” bond purchases. Let’s break down what was said and what to look for in the weeks ahead.

“Asset purchases still have a use, but it is time to taper them.” – Fed Chair Jerome Powell…Sept 22, 2021

The Fed has been purchasing $120B worth of Treasuries and Mortgage-Backed Securities since March 2020 to stabilize the financial markets and help pin down long-term rates. This effort has helped fuel the frenzy in both purchase and mortgage refinance activity.

Last Wednesday, during a press conference, Fed Chair Powell made it clear that the days of bond-buying are coming to an end and the scaling back of purchases may start before the end of the year. Here are some important quotes from the press conference:

“There is very broad support on committee for timing and pace of taper”

This is important as Fed Members are in alignment on the issue to taper, which means there is a good chance it is going to happen soon.

“There are some who would have preferred to go sooner due to financial stability concerns.”

This line highlights the fear that some Fed Members have of inflation/price instability that comes with too much money in the financial system.

“Wouldn’t put too much on inflation remaining above goal in Fed’s current outlook.”

However, Fed Chair Powell and most of the Fed believe the current high levels of inflation will be transitory or short-term in nature. The Fed forecasted Core inflation dropping down to 2.3% next year, which would be right in the Fed’s sweet spot. If inflation moderates to those levels, interest rates may not be pressured higher, which allows the Fed to scale back bond purchases.

“Completing taper sometime around the middle of next year will be appropriate.”

And for the first time, we have a timeline. The Fed is looking to scale back $120B a month in purchases to zero by mid-2022.

What’s next? Mark your calendar as the next Fed meeting is Wednesday, November 3rd…that is the day markets feel the Fed will announce the taper start if they want to complete the tapering by mid-2022.

For the Fed to make a taper announcement in November, we likely need to see more progress on the labor market, which means the September Jobs Report, being reported Friday, Oct 8th is a big deal. If that report is solid, expect the Fed to make the announcement. If the report stinks, as some have of late, the Fed may not announce the taper.

Other unknowns which might delay a taper announcement include the debt ceiling negotiation, infrastructure debate, and signs of Chinese property bubbles losing air.

Bottom line: Now we know the Fed wants to taper and it may come as soon as November. This means it is very difficult for rates to improve much if at all from here.