FED "Quantitative tightening" is close to its end God bless QE!

As is widely known, Fed communication has moved significantly towards a much more dovish tone in the past two months. The change in communication has been twofold, both on rates (the Fed became “patient” and “flexible” on the rate outlook) and on prospects for the so-called quantitative tightening (no longer any “autopilot” in balance-sheet runoff). In this piece we focus on the second tool of Fed policy, analysing rationales and targets behind balance sheet normalization, which have been detailed and widely expressed in recent Fed communication released by Chairman Powell, other Fed governors and the minutes of the January FOMC meeting. An earlier end to “quantitative tightening” (QT) has become likelier, working in combination with a more dovish stance on rates.

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