Fed's Schmid says Fed balance sheet still depressing yields

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 02:23 PM EST

By Michael S. Derby

NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Jeff Schmid said Thursday the size of the central bank's balance sheet is still putting downward pressure on market borrowing costs.

"People think long rates are too high," Schmid said in response to audience questions after a speech. But wherever yields are now, "those rates are probably somewhere between 50 and 100 basis points lower" than they would otherwise be "because of our position in that balance sheet today. So it's still an influence" on financial markets, he said. (Reporting by Michael S. Derby;)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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