--- title: The Federal Reserve Reduces Interest Rates Once More description: In a widely telegraphed and, therefore, fully expected move, the Federal Reserve Board voted to reduce its federal funds rate target by another 25 basis points this afternoon. That was the second such rate cut in as many meetings and followed a decade in which there had been no reductions--only increases in 2017 and 2018. image: https://investor.valueline.com/hubfs/VL%20Blog%20Images/Financial_3140396_200x140.jpg --- [![The Value Line Blog](https://investor.valueline.com/hubfs/VL%20Blog%20Images/vl_blog_header.png)](https://investor.valueline.com/blog) [Market Commentary](https://investor.valueline.com/blog/topic/market-commentary) # The Federal Reserve Reduces Interest Rates Once More September 18, 2019 In a widely telegraphed and, therefore, fully expected move, the Federal Reserve Board voted to reduce its federal funds rate target by another 25 basis points this afternoon. That was the second such rate cut in as many meetings and followed a decade in which there had been no reductions--only increases in 2017 and 2018. However, the central bank did not signal that there would be additional rate action this year, which disappointed many traders and sent the stock market down sharply in the minutes following this rate move. In fact, after dawdling at modestly lower levels through the morning and early afternoon, the Dow Jones Industrial Average quickly fell to a session-worst 185-point setback. In its interest-rate decision, the central bank pointed to the generally solid labor market and strong household spending activity. The Fed also cited continuing low inflation for its latest rate move, while not acknowledging that inflationary measures did pick up in August. The vote, meantime, was split, with one Fed member calling for a 50-basis point move; two others again opining for no reduction; and the rest in line with the 25-point action. Finally, although the bank did not point to additional rate moves this year, it also did not close the books entirely on such action. – Harvey S. Katz, CFA *At the time of this writing, the author did not have positions in any of the companies mentioned.* [![Register now for our free One Stock to Buy webinar](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2532383/5a80130b-f0ce-4bd8-acbd-f077f2232ec5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2532383/5a80130b-f0ce-4bd8-acbd-f077f2232ec5) ### Popular Posts Search Search Blog ### Topics - [Investing 101 (2)](https://investor.valueline.com/blog/topic/investing-101) - [Market Commentary (37)](https://investor.valueline.com/blog/topic/market-commentary) - [Stock Highlights (390)](https://investor.valueline.com/blog/topic/stock-highlights) - [Stock Market Today (2071)](https://investor.valueline.com/blog/topic/stock-market-today) Copyright 2026 Value Line, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factual material is obtained from sources believed to be reliable and is provided without warranties of any kind. VALUE LINE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS HEREIN OR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES ARISING FROM ANY USE OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. This blog is strictly for subscriber's own, non-commercial, internal use. No part of it may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any printed, electronic or other form, or used for generating or marketing any printed or electronic publication, service or product. Officers, directors, or employees of Value Line, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries, and EULAV Asset Management, may own stocks that are featured in this email. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities or to give individual investment advice. Value Line, the Value Line logo, The Most Trusted Name in Investment Research, “Smart research. Smarter investing.”, The Value Line Investment Survey, Timeliness, and Safety are trademarks or registered trademarks of Value Line, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries.