Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) — FX Impact, Latest News & FAQ
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is the rate-setting arm of the US Federal Reserve. It meets eight times a year and announces policy decisions at 18:00 UTC (14:00 ET) on the second day of each meeting, followed by a press conference…
About Federal Open Market Committee
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is the rate-setting arm of the US Federal Reserve. It meets eight times a year and announces policy decisions at 18:00 UTC (14:00 ET) on the second day of each meeting, followed by a press conference at 18:30 UTC. FOMC decisions and the Fed Chair's tone are the single largest catalyst in global FX: dovish surprises typically weaken the US dollar across the board (lifting EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD; lowering USD/JPY, USD/CHF, USD/CAD), while hawkish surprises do the opposite. The Summary of Economic Projections released at the March, June, September and December meetings — particularly the "dot plot" — frequently produces multi-hundred-pip moves on major USD pairs. NewFXT tracks every FOMC release with live quote impact, AI-generated commentary and structured calendar context.
Most affected FX pairs
FOMC FAQ
What is FOMC?
The Federal Open Market Committee is the body that sets the US federal funds target rate. It is the rate-setting arm of the Federal Reserve and the most important single influence on the US dollar.
When does FOMC meet?
FOMC meets eight times a year, roughly every six weeks. Decisions are announced at 18:00 UTC (14:00 ET) on the second day of each meeting; the Chair's press conference begins at 18:30 UTC.
How does FOMC move FX?
A more hawkish-than-expected stance (faster hikes, slower cuts) typically strengthens USD against everything. A more dovish stance weakens USD. The biggest moves come from the dot plot at quarterly meetings, surprises in the rate decision, or unexpected language shifts in the statement.
What is the FOMC dot plot?
A chart published quarterly that shows where each FOMC member expects the federal funds rate to be at the end of the next three years and the long run. It is widely used to gauge the committee's policy bias.