Stock Market Awaits Fed Policy Statement

The stock market is rather flat today as investors await the latest Fed policy statement. Members of the Federal Reserve will conclude a two-day policy meeting today. The interest rate is not expected to change, so investors are waiting to see what Ben Bernanke, the Chair of the Federal Reserve, has to say about the economy and the expectations of policy going forward.

Many expect Bernanke to acknowledge that the economy is showing improvement and that stimulus measures have been doing their job. However, there is also an expectation that he will drop hints of when interest rates might start to rise again as the Fed works to keep a lid on inflation.

Ben Bernanke has had a great deal of influence on the markets lately, since Fed policy and statements can impact how investors feel about what is happening in the economy, and sentiment going forward. This in turn affects their decisions, and how they invest. His influence is one of the reasons that Bernanke was named Person of the Year 2009 by Time magazine.

Image source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System via Wikimedia Commons

Post from: EveryJoe

Stock Market Awaits Fed Policy Statement