Fed rate hold odds for July remain above 70%, with September hike bets elevated

CME FedWatch and other market gauges show traders still favor a July hold, though pricing and strategist commentary indicate expectations for a possible later 25-basis-point Federal Reserve increase remain significant.

Summary

Market pricing continues to favor the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady in July, with CME FedWatch showing 72.7% odds of no change and a 27.3% chance of a 25-basis-point hike as of July 11. Earlier figures cited by Odaily showed a 74.9% probability of a July hold, while LSEG data put the chance of a July increase at 22% after weak U.S. labor data last week pushed expectations for any final hike later into the year. Federated Hermes chief market strategist Phil Orlando said a July move is unlikely, arguing the Fed will probably look through what he described as a temporary energy supply shock and keep rates unchanged. By September, an earlier market snapshot showed more hawkish expectations, with 35.7% odds of no change, 51.1% odds of a cumulative 25-basis-point hike and 13.1% odds of a cumulative 50-basis-point hike.

Terms & Concepts
  • CME FedWatch: A CME tool that tracks market-implied expectations for upcoming Federal Reserve rate decisions.
  • basis point: One-hundredth of a percentage point; a 25-basis-point move equals a quarter-percentage-point change.
  • money markets: Markets where traders price short-term interest-rate expectations and near-dated funding instruments.