The dollar index (DXY00) rose by +0.29% on Wednesday, rebounding from Tuesday's nearly 4-year low. The weakness in the yen supported gains in the dollar on Wednesday after Treasury Secretary Bessent said the US "absolutely not" intervening in the currency market to support the yen. The dollar maintained its gains after the FOMC kept interest rates unchanged and Fed Chair Powell signaled the Fed was on hold for the foreseeable future.
As expected, the FOMC voted 10-2 to keep the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%. The post-FOMC statement said economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace and inflation remains somewhat elevated. The FOMC also said, "job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization," and dropped language from the prior meeting that said downside risks to employment have increased.
