All three brokerages had previously forecast that the Fed would keep rates unchanged in December.
The change in sentiment comes on the back of softer U.S. economic data released in late November and a series of dovish remarks from influential Federal Reserve officials. Comments from New York Fed President and FOMC Vice Chair John Williams, Fed Governor Christopher Waller, and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly have strengthened expectations that policymakers are preparing to ease.
Market pricing has quickly adjusted. Traders now assign an 87.2% probability of a quarter-point cut at the December 9–10 policy meeting, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
Morgan Stanley has also updated its longer-term rate path projection. The firm now anticipates additional 25-basis-point cuts in January and April, bringing the terminal rate to 3.0%–3.25%. This is a revision from its earlier expectation of rate cuts in January, April, and June.
Meanwhile, forecasts remain divided among major banks. J.P. Morgan anticipates one more cut in January, while BofA expects rate reductions to resume later in the year, with cuts projected in June and July.
(Disclaimer: This article has been sourced from Reuters)