The Federal Reserve held steady on rates at the conclusion of its October meeting, maintaining its target range of 3.75% to 4%.

The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, as expected, opting to delay any changes to borrowing costs until after next week's US midterm elections while it awaits further data on inflation, which the central bank said "remains elevated." The 10-2 decision to maintain the Fed's benchmark interest rate within the 3.75-4 percent range came with an upgraded assessment of an economy that the central bank now says is growing at a "strong pace." Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh also expressed confidence that inflation can be lowered to the 2 percent target without having to "throw sand in the gears" and slow growth or raise unemployment. Warsh, speaking at a press conference after the end of a two-day policy meeting, said he expects a report on third-quarter gross domestic product on Thursday to show strong investment and consumer spending and an acceleration of growth from the first half of the year. Warsh, however, said he still does not think the economy is "too hot" or generating demand-side inflation that needs to be curbed. "The economy is pointing in the right direction. Is the economy running too hot? Is the economy running too strong? That isn't the judgement of most of my colleagues," said Warsh, arguing, as he has before, that changes in productivity, even pre-dating the artificial intelligence boom, may allow the US to grow faster without as much inflation. "The goal, in my view... isn't to throw sand in the gears of the economy and throw people out of work. I don't think we have to do that." Rather, he said, a higher Fed policy rate is already showing its impact in slightly tighter credit conditions that could, for example, slow business investment and which arguably contributed to recent stock market declines, another potential source of "disinflation" if it slows spending among wealthier families. In comments to CNBC on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration continues to have faith that Warsh will "find the right balance" between the 2 percent inflation goal and continuing economic growth. The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee's latest policy statement, however, hinted that more rate hikes may be needed, and some of Warsh's colleagues have been explicit in their concerns that demand, fuelled by AI and healthy consumer spending, is starting to drive prices higher. Between now and the next policy meeting in December, "the accumulation of more information will help the Committee determine the policy stance appropriate to ensure a timely return of inflation to the Committee's 2 percent goal," the FOMC said. "The Committee will deliver price stability." Fed Governor Lisa Cook, currently being targeted by President Donald Trump for removal from the central bank, cast her first dissent on a central bank policy decision on Wednesday, favouring a quarter-percentage-point rate hike. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, a consistently hawkish voice, also dissented in favour of a rate increase. Market reaction was muted, with US stocks paring gains slightly after the decision but ending higher on the day. Longer-dated US Treasury yields extended their rise. Short-term interest-rate futures rose a bit, as traders scaled back a bit on bets of Fed rate hikes ahead. "The forces keeping the Federal Reserve hawkish haven't faded. Diesel and gasoline prices remain elevated, AI-driven inflation isn't easing, and the labour market remains resilient," said Michael Pearce, chief US economist at Oxford Economics. The outcome of this week's meeting was widely expected after top Fed officials indicated they saw no rush to raise rates again following the quarter-percentage-point increase approved last month, despite inflation data in the meantime that was stronger than forecast and concerns that price pressures are broadening across the economy. Financial markets are still pricing in a couple of additional rate hikes in the coming months, though with slightly less conviction than before Warsh spoke on Wednesday. Pricing shows about an 80 percent chance of a rate hike at the Fed's December 8-9 meeting, with another increase in borrowing costs likely by March. (Reuters) Edited by Cecil Wong

Passengers recalled the moments before a high-speed passenger train rear-ended another in Spain on Wednesday.

The Fed's benchmark affects many consumer borrowing costs, including the rates tied to mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and savings accounts.