UBS: Fed's Next Meeting Timing 'Awkward,' Not Ruled Out Delaying Meeting for Data

November 24th. UBS noted that when it comes to the scheduling of the Fed's next meeting in December, there is a previous "awkward" situation: the December FOMC meeting will take place prior to the release of two crucial employment reports, which are precisely the core data that determine whether to cut interest rates. This has led the market to begin discussing a possibility: whether the Fed will postpone its scheduled December 10th meeting by one week so that it can have the critical employment data before making a decision. Looking back, adjusting meeting times is not an unprecedented occurrence. In 1971 and 1974, the Fed postponed meetings due to special circumstances. From a regulatory perspective, the Federal Reserve Act only mandates that the FOMC convene at least four times a year and does not have rigid rules regarding date adjustments. UBS pointed out that in history, a single employment report has been sufficient to change the direction of monetary policy. This time, however, the Fed is facing the risk of missing two reports. If a meeting postponement does take place, it will increase policy uncertainty but may potentially enhance decision-making quality. (FXStreet)