Key highlights from Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks:
1. Powell remained cautious and declined to answer questions related to the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation, as well as whether he would stay at the Fed until 2028 after his term as Chair ends in May.
2. The Fed reiterated that it does not comment on the U.S. dollar or target exchange rates, but instead focuses on broader economic conditions such as inflation and employment.
3. The entire FOMC committee currently supports keeping interest rates unchanged. Future policy decisions will depend on incoming economic data.
4. Powell noted that most of the inflationary impact from tariffs has likely already been reflected, and inflation is expected to return to the 2% target as long as no new tariff rounds are introduced.
5. The Fed is not considering any rate hikes at this time, and such a scenario is not currently on the table.
6. When asked what advice he would give to his successor, Powell emphasized: “Stay away from politics.”
7. He also warned against reading too much into the rise in gold prices. While the Fed monitors precious metals, it does not view them as a special macroeconomic signal.