US Federal Reserve meeting date and time today: Where to watch FOMC interest rate decision and Fed chair Jerome Powell's speech

The US Federal Reserve is expected to announce its first interest rate decision of 2025 later tonight, Wednesday, September 17, following the two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

What time is the US Federal Reserve rate decision in IST?

The repo rate outcome will be declared at 2 PM, Eastern Time (11:30 PM Indian Standard Time), with Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference scheduled at 2:30 PM ET (12 AM IST, Thursday).

Is the Fed expected to cut interest rates today?

Investors worldwide are bracing for what could be the first rate cut of the year, with markets pricing in a 25 basis point reduction. The real focus, however, will be on the Fed’s “dot plot” (its updated interest rate projections) and Powell’s commentary on the pace of future cuts amid slowing jobs data and sticky inflation.

The last dot plot, shared after the June FOMC meeting, revealed a consensus among Fed officials for two cuts this year amid uncertainties about how the Trump administration's policies on tariffs, immigration, and taxes would impact the economy.

Jerome Powell vs Donald Trump

The Fed decision also comes in the backdrop of immense political pressure from the Republican administration led by President Donald Trump, who has been openly urging the US monetary policy regulator to slash rates more aggressively, while newly confirmed policymakers may influence the tone of deliberations.

Where to watch or follow the Fed decision and Powell speech?

CNBC-TV18 live blog for real-time updates, insights, and commentary

Here are the FOMC’s official channels:

YouTube

X (formerly Twitter)

The official website of the Federal Reserve

How will the Fed decision affect Indian markets?

A rate cut could boost global liquidity and foreign inflows, supporting Sensex and Nifty, though the rupee and bond yields will also be in focus.

Indian equities rose for a second straight session on Wednesday, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing at its highest level in more than three months, led by gains in financial and public sector stocks, while investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision.

The NSE Nifty 50 ended 0.36% higher at 25,330.10, its strongest close since June 7, while the S&P BSE Sensex gained 313 points, or 0.38%, to 82,694.