Fed leaves rates steady, signals pause in 2020

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its December meeting on Wednesday, halting a series of rate cuts that lifted markets and countered recession fears amid ongoing trade uncertainty.

Policymakers unanimously agreed to leave rates hovering between 1.5% and 1.75%, describing the policy decision as “appropriate” to help prolong the nation’s economic expansion, now in its 11th year.

The widely anticipated move falls in line with market expectations as the Fed has signaled it plans to move into an extended pause as it watches to see how the US economy evolves.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.