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How Long Can the Fed Wait Before Cutting Rates Again?

By: Gustian Farrow, Head of StoneX TV • Content Channels

How Long Can the Fed Wait Before Cutting Rates Again?

Jon Hilsenrath, Senior StoneX Advisor, outlines the bind facing the Federal Reserve and the knock-on effects for currency markets.

Key Takeaways

  • Fed unlikely to cut in June without a “really terrible” May jobs report
  • Inflation above 2% and slowing growth leave policymakers with no easy choice
  • Dollar weakness reflects waning confidence in Treasuries as a safe haven

Fed Mandates in Open Conflict

The central bank “has two mandates that it’s trying to live up to,” Hilsenrath notes—2% inflation and full employment. Yet inflation remains sticky while growth moderates, pulling policy in opposite directions. “They’re damned if they do and they’re damned if they know”, he says, capturing a dilemma where any move risks missing at least one mandate.

Why a June Move Looks Remote

Fresh speeches from officials such as Cleveland Fed president Beth Hammack stress the need for “clear and convincing evidence” before adjusting rates. Futures markets have moved to price out a June cut, aligning with Hilsenrath’s long-held view. <e,>“We would have to have a really terrible jobs report for May” to shift policy. April’s data, by contrast, showed payrolls still expanding and unemployment steady at 4.2%.</e,>

Dollar Dynamics and the Safe-Haven Debate

Despite a widening rate gap that should boost the greenback, the dollar weakened early in the year. The reason, Hilsenrath argues, is sentiment over whether U.S. Treasuries remain the world’s premier refuge. “The net answer seems to be that it’s losing some of its safe haven value”. Investors are diversifying into gold, revealing discomfort with dollar assets amid policy and trade uncertainty.

Market Implications Ahead

With tariffs re-entering headlines and growth data mixed, markets remain “on hold because of all the uncertainty”. Absent a decisive shift in inflation or employment, the Fed is likely to watch and wait, leaving traders to parse every speech and data release for hints. For currencies, the bigger driver may be geopolitical risk rather than policy differentials, raising the stakes for global portfolios.

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--- Written by Gus Farrow

--- Expert: Jon Hilsenrath, Senior StoneX Advisor

 

 

  • Currencies

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