# Stephen Stanley Sees Fed Hold, Says December Hike Remains Possible

By Riza Dagoc

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/41841
Published: 2026-10-27T15:50:28.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-27T15:50:28.000Z
Section: Regulation

> The Fed is scheduled to announce its decision Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET (18:00 UTC), with Chair Kevin Warsh’s news conference set for 2:30 p.m. ET (18:30 UTC).

Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Santander U.S. Capital Markets, expects the Federal Reserve to keep rates unchanged Wednesday. He says another increase remains possible in December, leaving Chair Kevin Warsh to explain the decision and the options ahead.

Stanley said Warsh needs to account for the October pause while keeping a year-end increase under consideration. The Federal Open Market Committee meets Oct. 27-28 and is scheduled to announce its decision at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday (18:00 UTC), followed by Warsh’s news conference at 2:30 p.m. ET (18:30 UTC).

The Fed raised rates in September. Market pricing for an October increase climbed above 70% in late September and early October, then fell below 30% after officials said policymakers could wait. High oil prices and AI infrastructure demand for materials and electricity added to September price pressures. The Nasdaq 100 had fallen more than 7% from its Oct. 6 record high, while the 10-year Treasury yield had spent several consecutive weeks above 5% at an earlier point.

Warsh has offered limited guidance on the rate path since taking office in May. His terse remarks after the Fed held rates in July triggered market volatility. He took a hawkish tone in August, and September projections signaled another increase before year-end.

The meeting comes days before the Tuesday, Nov. 3 midterm elections. Trump criticized the September increase.