Hot investment tip

[wildcat]

Ok, not really but it sounded good. My feeling is that the Fed will lower interest rates by the end of the year due to the recent economic data and the '08 elections -- which I believe influence fed policy in certain situations.

I recommend locking in some CD rates at current levels.

Full disclosure: I'm doing it

 

[JustCurious]

My feeling is that the Fed will lower interest rates by the end of the year

Not much of a prediction, since the fed lowered interest rates today.

 

[wildcat]

Oh well, locked up in an office all day.

 

[twaddle]

They cut a different rate. But the odds are strongly on a cut in Sept:

Fed Funds Probabilities :: Current :: Economic Research & Data :: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

 

[JustCurious]

twaddle, different than what? wildcat did not define which rate would be cut. He said "My feeling is that the Fed will lower interest rates by the end of the year...." The Fed lowered interest rates today.

 

[twaddle]

The fed cut the discount rate, not the fed funds rate, which is what everybody watches these days. But the expectation they set is that a fed funds rate cut is imminent.

 

[JustCurious]

Wildcat did not predict a cut of the fed funds rate, he predicted that the "fed will lower interest rates by the end of the year." His prediction came true today.

 

[twaddle]

Yes, it was an excellent prediction.

Not sure if either rate cut will have much of an effect on (longer term) CD rates, and short-term rates have already been hit:

U.S. Treasury - Daily Treasury Bill Rates

 

[wildcat]

So why are ING CDs still quoting me over 5% on 6 months? I guess it hasn't been adjusted yet.

JC - I predict a FED FUNDS rate cut although I don't think it will be much of a surprise.