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Central BanksHigh Impact•18 February 2026•

1 min read

Fed Minutes Reveal Officials' Willingness to Raise Rates if Inflation Persists

A man with gray hair in a suit looks forward, with a burning building behind him. Financial charts and gauges are overlaid.

The Federal Reserve released minutes from its latest policy meeting, indicating a hawkish shift among several FOMC members. The document revealed that some officials are prepared to tighten monetary policy further if inflation remains stubbornly above the 2% target. Concerns were highlighted regarding persistent inflationary pressures despite the restrictive measures already in place. Market participants reacted to the news as it strengthens the 'higher-for-longer' interest rate narrative, boosting the US Dollar (DXY). Consequently, gold prices and equity indices like the SPY faced downward pressure following the release. These minutes underscore the Fed's data-dependent stance and its unwavering commitment to restoring price stability.