Trading the FOMC Meeting

We will go over the details about what FOMC is, why it’s crucial for traders and investors, why this specific meeting is so anticipated, where to get information about it before it occurs, what to look for to prepare for it to happen, and what to do after it’s completed.

What Is the FOMC Meeting?

The Federal Reserve was founded in 1913 to regulate the financial sector. Before it was created, most banks in the United States weren’t doing well and going out of business. This put the savings and livelihoods of millions at risk. Today, banks help to set the monetary policy for the country, promote the strength of this sector, and heighten the stability within the financial industry. There are three entities for the Federal Reserve:

• The Federal Reserve Banks
• FOMC
• Board of Governors

The FOMC is chaired by the Federal governor and is a special committee within the Reserve. Its role is primarily to analyze the economy, create necessary monetary policies, and update them as needed. To do that effectively, it uses scheduled or impromptu meetings.

There are various key tools within the FOMC toolbox, including:

• Quantitative Easing – This allows the Federal Reserve to create money out of thin air to buy assets, such as government bonds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds). The goal is to ensure there’s enough liquidity within the market. That money they make can also be lent to companies directly.
• Interest Rates – These are one of the most useful tools. Ideally, the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates during challenging economic periods. The goal here is to incentivize others to use their savings to make investments to promote consumption. Likewise, people find it cheaper to access needed capital.

Why Is the FOMC Meeting So Important?

The FOMC and the NonFarm Payrolls report are key indicators of the health of the US economy. Traders could use the committee’s decision to give a broader context for trading strategies. Likewise, the FOMC decision directly impacts specific trading instruments, including:

• Gold – If the dollar gets strengthened by a higher interest rate, the value of gold could decline. Traders might flock to gold when the FOMC outcome suggests a more negative outlook for the economy because it’s considered a stable asset that better holds its value during financial turbulence.
• Dollar – If the FOMC chooses to increase interest rates, the demand could increase, which pushes the value of the dollar higher.
• Bonds – Overall, rising interest rates could cause the bonds to fall.
• Indices – Share prices could be pushed down when interest rates rise. Therefore, US indices are often subject to speculation from different movements.

Overall, the US economy is the largest in the world. Therefore, repercussions from the FOMC decision could be felt worldwide. Traders everywhere pay attention to the FOMC decision as their indicator of the global economic trends. Likewise, they receive insight into how worldwide central banks may adjust inflation policies.

Volatility often surrounds the FOMC decision, which could be a source of potential opportunities for traders. In particular, day traders constantly adapt their strategies to maximize profits on the shifts that happen before and after this meeting. It’s common to see speculation weeks before the announcement, which prepares the markets for either outcome. If you prefer long-term trading patterns, be aware that the FOMC decision could take time to impact the economy fully. When you formulate a trading strategy that accounts for the meetings, you might maximize on those movements, regardless of the outcome.

What Will Happen at the FOMC Meeting?

Each FOMC meeting has five Federal Reserve Bank presidents and seven governors of the board sit and discuss the monetary policy for the United States and decide what to do. There are two primary purposes here: to determine what intervention steps are necessary and to review the existing economic data.

The committee’s decision comes from huge quantities of data, such as employment growth, inflation, business fixed investment, and household spending. Though the meeting is private, key decisions get announced at a special press conference once everything is finalized and finished. Three weeks after the FOMC passes, the full minutes are published. Ultimately, the FOMC hopes to stabilize the economy by lowering or raising interest rates. Committee members must use various economic data to evaluate whether they should slow or drive inflation in relation to the target inflation rate of two percent and the money supply.

5 Tips for Trading the FOMC Meeting - What to Watch out For

When you’re trading around the FOMC meeting time, here are a few tips to consider:

1. Know the Date for the Meeting – Use the Federal Reserve website to find out when the next FOMC meeting should occur. Check for the time of the press conference and policy statement announcements, but also find out the date and time for the release of the meeting minutes. Continue watching the website regularly to get news, and sign up for the Twitter feed from the Federal Reserve to learn when unscheduled meetings might pop up.
2. Create a Strategy before the Announcement – What are the expectations of the market? Read opinion and analysis commentators to learn more. Analyze the recent financial and economic performance and comments from previous FOMC meetings. Then, ask how you might react if the interest rates hiked or were cut. Make sure you’re ready to change your strategy based on the decision.
3. React to Volatility – Forward guidance now means less volatility surrounding FOMC announcements. However, it’s still present and could be highly significant. Make sure you’re ready to trade if the expectations of a raise/cut weren’t met or rates get changed. It’s best to wait for the initial reaction of the market to pass, finding real direction after things calm down.
4. Understand Risk Management – You can’t forget about the risk management basics when trading on a FOMC meeting. Use take-profit and stop-loss orders, and make sure you don’t put more than one percent of the capital on a single trade.
5. Think Long-Term – You don’t necessarily have to trade based on the announcement on the day it’s made. Most of the FOMC decisions take time before influencing the markets and economy. Continue with your long-term strategy, and don’t do rash things because other traders are.

Conclusion

The FOMC decisions are the most important events for the economy. They influence how the market runs in the long term but might not affect day trading or short-term needs. It’s crucial to understand when the FOMC meetings occur and take precautions when trading. You’ve learned a few tips and now understand how to prepare yourself.

FOMC Meeting FAQs

When Is the Next FOMC Meeting and Announcement?

The next FOMC meeting should be held on December 13 and 14, 2022. Here, it will review the current financial and economic conditions, such as employment numbers, inflation, equity prices, and treasury yields. Typically, a vote is taken after the discussions, and the outcome gets announced in a press conference and policy statement at 2 p.m. on the second day.

When Are the Minutes of the FOMC Meeting Released?

The minutes of these meetings get released three weeks after they’re held. They record the main discussion areas and review the current economic situation. Typically, they outline the committee decisions and explain the reasoning behind them. In March, September, June, and December, the FOMC offers economic projections for inflation, unemployment rates, and the GDP.

What Trading Opportunity Does the FOMC Meeting Present?

The FOMC meetings and policy statements offer a clear indicator of the US economy. Therefore long-term traders often reformulate their strategies around high/low interest rates and might purchase more bonds.

What Are Some of the Tools That the FOMC Uses to Influence the Markets?

The FOMC primarily uses these tools to influence the market:

• Quantitative Easing
• Federal Funds Rate
• Reserve Repurchase Agreements
• Reserve Requirements
• Primary Credit Rate
• YCC (Yield Curve Control)

What Markets Are Typically Moved by the FOMC Meeting?

The markets often moved by the FOMC meetings include:

• Bonds
• Commodities
• Equities
• Forex

How Does the FOMC Meeting Affect the Market?

The FOMC decision isn’t as relevant as it used to be because of forward guidance. In the past, those major assets moved rapidly because of the monetary policy. However, the Fed adapted to it to reduce volatility. For example, the bank lowered interest rates significantly during the COVID pandemic, and those rates should remain low for a while.

What Does FOMC Mean in Trading?

FOMC stands for Federal Open Market Committee. The Federal Reserve staff determines discount rates, reserve requirements, and other information.

Is the FOMC the Same as the Fed?

No, FOMC isn’t the same. The FOMC committee is part of the Federal Reserve and is only responsible for the open market operations.

What Is the Meaning of FOMC in Forex?

The Federal Open Market Committee hosts meetings to discuss interest rates and other financial concerns. It could significantly impact the US dollar and change the way you trade.