Fed Ends QT Program in Major Policy Shift
The Federal Reserve has halted its quantitative tightening program after three years, marking a pivotal moment in post-pandemic monetary policy. The central bank’s balance sheet shrank by $2.2 trillion during the 2022-2024 cycle, including $1.6 trillion in Treasuries and $600 billion in mortgage-backed securities—one of the largest contractions in its history.
Bank reserves have stabilized at levels the Fed deems safe, reducing risks of a repeat of the 2019 repo market crisis. Traders now price in an 88% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut by December, reflecting expectations of looser policy ahead.