Amazing. The Fed cut the target federal funds rate to between 0% and 0.25%. This is a significant event in many ways. Rates can not go further down. Which means the only leverage left for the Feds to influence US Monetary Policy will be through their balance sheets (buying/selling assets etc.).

Below is a snapshot of the Fed announcement. The complete statement from the Federal Open Markets Committee is available on Bloomberg.

The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to establish a target range for the federal funds rate of 0 to 1/4 percent.

Since the Committee’s last meeting, labor market conditions have deteriorated, and the available data indicate that consumer spending, business investment, and industrial production have declined. Financial markets remain quite strained and credit conditions tight. Overall, the outlook for economic activity has weakened further.

Meanwhile, inflationary pressures have diminished appreciably. In light of the declines in the prices of energy and other commodities and the weaker prospects for economic activity, the Committee expects inflation to moderate further in coming quarters.

The Federal Reserve will employ all available tools to promote the resumption of sustainable economic growth and to preserve price stability. In particular, the Committee anticipates that weak economic conditions are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for some time.

Read full statement.

Remember though that the federal funds rate is not the same as your home mortage interest rate. In fact at times they can go in opposite directions.