美聯儲保持利率不變 Fed stands back amid market gyrations

The Federal Reserve is monitoring volatility in financial markets and developments in overseas economies as it left interest rates unchanged at 0.25-0.5 per cent following weeks of turmoil in equities and plunging commodity prices.

美聯儲正在監測金融市場的波動性以及海外經濟體的動態。在股市動盪及大宗商品價格暴跌持續數週後，美聯儲將利率保持在0.25%至0.5%的水平不變。

The central bank said it was assessing what the gyrations around the world meant for the risks facing the US economy, leaving its options open as traders bet policymakers will leave rates unchanged until the second half of the year.

美聯儲稱，正在評估世界各地的市場動盪對於美國經濟面臨的風險意味着什麼，這使美聯儲保持行動的靈活性。目前交易員們押注政策制定者將維持利率不變至今年下半年。

The Fed pushed through a landmark interest rate increase in December despite worries within its policymaking committee about stubbornly low inflation.

去年12月，美聯儲進行了具有里程碑意義的加息，儘管其政策制定委員會內部對頑固的低通脹抱有擔憂。

The global picture has darkened markedly since Fed policymakers last met in December. The European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England have all sent out dovish signals in recent weeks, meaning the Fed has risked looking out of step with its overseas counterparts.

自從美聯儲政策制定者去年12月開會以來，全球局面已經顯著惡化。最近數週，歐洲央行(ECB)、日本央行(BOJ)以及英國央行(BOE)均發出鴿派信號，這意味着美聯儲正冒着與其他央行步調不一致的風險。

The statement suggested the Fed does not want to rush to judgment about the implications of the market gyrations.

美聯儲的聲明似乎表明，美聯儲目前不想對市場動盪的潛在影響匆忙做出判斷。