Federal Reserve meeting
Get the inside track on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, including when it is and why traders pay it close attention.
What happened at the last Fed meeting?
At the last FOMC meeting on 19th March 2025, the Fed held interest rates steady at 4.25-4.50%. This continued Fed chair Jerome Powell's hawkish stance to fight US inflation, currently at 2.8% CPI.
Current federal funds rate
4.25 - 4.50%
When is the next Fed meeting?
The FOMC holds eight regularly scheduled meetings during the year and other meetings as needed. The minutes of the scheduled meetings are released three weeks after the date of the policy decision.
| Date | Minutes released |
|---|---|
| 28-29th January | 19th February |
| 18-19th March | 9th April |
| 6-7th May | 28th April |
| 17-18th June | 9th July |
| 29-30th July | 20th August |
| 16-17th September | 8th October |
| 28-29th October | 19th November |
| 9-10th December | 31st December |
How to trade the Federal Reserve meeting
FOMC meetings tend to instigate price activity across markets, meaning they usually create plenty of trading opportunities. Day traders could look to take advantage of short-term volatility, both prior to the announcement and in the immediate aftermath. Alternatively, longer-term traders can develop strategies around higher or lower interest rates, expectations of higher or lower inflation, and the overall economic outlook.
Here are a few top tips for trading the FOMC meeting:
Know when the meeting is happening
Our economic calendar is a great resource for this. You can also check out the FOMC meeting calendar on the Federal Reserve website. As well as the main policy statement, it’s worth keeping an eye on when the minutes are released.
Check the market’s expectation
Is the Fed expected to hike rates, cut them, or hold steady? Check the opinion of market commentators, or analyse the United States’ recent economic performance and comments from past FOMC meetings.
Be ready for volatility
Markets can be volatile around the FOMC announcement. Get ready if rates are changed or expectations of a cut or raise aren’t met.
Get your risk-management sorted
Trading the FOMC meeting requires prudent risk management. Do your research and set up stop-losses and take-profit orders to help you manage your exposure.
Take a long-term view
Trading the FOMC isn’t just about short-term volatility - the decisions made also influence the wider economy long-term. Think aboutthe impact now and in the future.
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Get free daily market analysis and trade ideas straight to your inbox.
More Value
Trade for less with spreads from zero, flexible commissions, and no account fees.
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Build your trading strategies with advanced platforms on desktop, web, and mobile.
More Opportunities
Access hundreds of trading instruments across FX, indices, commodities and stocks.
