The US Central Bank leaves the policy rate unchanged. Thus, it is still in the interval 4.25-4.5 per cent. The interest rate has been untouched after three straight interest cuts before Christmas. Presidents have traditionally refrained from commenting on the decisions of the Central Bank, which will operate independently. However, Donald Trump has repeatedly encouraged the Federal Reserve to cut interests both in this and the previous period in the White House. Trump said Sunday that Powell has not cut any further “just because he doesn’t like me”. Governor Jerome Powell suggested in mid-April that the bank would await additional interest rate cuts to see how the Trump administration’s economic policy turns out. “So far, we are well equipped to wait until we get more clarity,” Powell said. (NTB)
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