The Fed's commitment issue

Surprise decision to hold off on scaling back bond purchases shows it hadn't convinced investors it intends to keep short-term rates low for longer

On second thought, maybe not. The Federal Reserve's decision not to reduce monthly bond purchases got a rousing cheer from investors.

Stocks rallied, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a new record, as did Treasurys, pushing yields sharply lower. The response was good news for the Fed - higher stock prices and lower long-term interest rates offer more support to an economy that remains in a rut. But it also could make for some headaches down the road.

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