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Federal Reserve Watch for Feb. 18: FOMC Minutes Show Sharp Divisions Among Participants

BY MT Newswires | ECONOMIC | 02/18/26 02:43 PM EST

02:43 PM EST, 02/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Minutes of the Jan. 27-28 FOMC meeting show considerable diversity among the participants, with some advocating for further rate cuts, some saying that the FOMC should pause of the foreseeable future and others who suggested that the next rate move could be upward rather than downward if inflation rebounds.

Recent comments of note:

(Feb. 17) Fed Governor Michael Barr (voter) said that the FOMC should maintain its current stance of monetary policy "for some time" to see how the outlook for inflation and economic growth evolves.

(Feb. 17) San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly (nonvoter) said the Fed needs to continue it work to lower inflation while also protecting the labor market from further weakness.

(Feb. 13) Fed Governor Stephen Miran (voter) repeated that monetary policy remains tighter than needed and is an obstacle to economic growth. He again brushed off concerns about inflation and said that lower interest rates are needed as insurance against a deterioration of the labor market.

MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

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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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