Fed says it could begin ‘gradual tapering process’ by mid-November
In a process known as tapering, the Fed would reduce the $120 billion a month in bond buys slowly. The minutes indicated the central bank probably would start by cutting $10 billion a month in Treasurys and $5 billion a month in mortgage-backed securities. The Fed is currently buying at least $80 billion in Treasurys and $40 billion in MBS.
The target date to end the purchases should there be no disruptions would be mid-2022.
The target date to end the purchases should there be no disruptions would be mid-2022.
“If they announce [tapering] in November, I don’t see why they would wait. Just go ahead and get going,” said Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab. Jones said she was a bit surprised by a notation in the minutes that “several” members “preferred to proceed with a more rapid” tapering pace.
“That would be pretty aggressive,” she said. “There must be some outspoken people who are pretty concerned that they need to move even faster.”
“That would be pretty aggressive,” she said. “There must be some outspoken people who are pretty concerned that they need to move even faster.”
