At midweek, Tim Duy wrote this at Economist's View:
Futures markets appear to have no clear conviction on the outcome of the next FOMC meeting. The message is that market participants are looking for one more rate hike, either in August or September. Moreover, they doubt the Fed’s position that “pause does not mean done.”
That was indeed the case then, but this is now. Bringing you tomorrow's news today, here is what the probabilities estimated from options on federal funds futures look like as the week of before the next meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee begins:
Friday's second quarter GDP report really wasn't all that bad, but apparently not as good as expected was enough. And Professor Duy was right -- the market does seem to doubt the Fed’s position that “pause does not mean done.”
It's still a relatively long time to September, but at this point it is hard to see what might significantly shift sentiment about this week's meeting.
UPDATE: I take it back. Tomorrow's ISM and PCE reports could loom large. And there was this, from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis president William Poole:
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President William Poole said he's undecided on whether the central bank should raise interest rates at its next meeting in eight days.
Poole, speaking to reporters after a speech in Louisville, Kentucky, said he's "50-50'' on the decision, which needs "all our analytical skills.'' Recent data show slowing economic growth, while inflation has "tilted'' upward, he said. Containing inflation is the Fed's "primary'' goal, he added.
UPDATE II: Action Economics (subscription required) reports:
SF Fed's Yellen did note rule out more rate hikes though she said that the Fed funds rate is "in the vicinity" of the right level, noting the Fed remains responsive to the data and she expects below-trend growth later in 2006 to pull down inflation. Yellen also confirmed that the Fed was mindful of policy lags and even though core inflation is above her comfort zone, the Fed can pause before it begins to decline, while retaining a more restrictive policy setting... Overall the comments are fairly balanced and do not rule in or out another hike in August