US Fed ‘comfortable on pause’ despite Trump pressure: Analyst

0 January 29, 2026 00:08

The US Federal Reserve has kept interest rates on hold for the first time since July, leaving the benchmark lending rate unchanged at a range of 3.5 per cent to 3.75 per cent in its first meeting of 2026. Speaking to CNA’s Asia First, Krishna Guha, senior managing director at Evercore ISI, an independent investment banking and advisory firm, discusses why the central bank is comfortable holding rates steady for now, and the conditions that might trigger cuts in the near future. The upcoming leadership transition and potential political pressure also raise questions about the Fed’s future independence and credibility, he adds.

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