U.S. Federal Reserve raises benchmark interest rate by 0.25%p, forecasting two more hikes in 2019

U.S. Federal Reserve raises benchmark interest rate by 0.25%p, forecasting two more hikes in 2019Trump and raised its benchmark interest rate by 0-point-2-5 percentage point. However, the Fed has lowered 2019 projections to two hikes from three in the prior forecast.Kim Hyo-sun reports. Federal Reserve raises benchmark interest rate by 0.25%p, target range standing at 2.25~2.50%As markets had expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point on Wednesday.Following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting,... the Fed said the target range for its benchmark funds rate now stands between 2-point-25 to 2-point-5 percent.This is the fourth hike this year,... and the ninth since the Fed began normalizing rates in December of 2015. It explained that the labor market continued to strengthen and economic activities have expanded. "You've have growth well above trend. You've got unemployment dropping. You've got inflation moving up to 2 percent. And we also have a positive forecast, as I mentioned. And in that context, we think this move was appropriate for what is a very healthy economy." Fed forecasts two rate hikes in 2019 despite Trump's calls for rate freezeThe Fed, meanwhile, projected there will be two rate hikes next year,... a reduction from what it forecast in September. The increase came despite President Trump's tweet earlier this week in which he called it (quote) "incredible" the Fed was considering raising rates. Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.