So which part of these caused the spike?
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Source Federal Reserve (latest release)
Measures Interest rate at which banks lend balances held at the Federal Reserve to other banks overnight;
Usual Effect Actual > Forecast = Good for currency;
Frequency Scheduled 8 times per year;
Next Release Sep 21, 2010
FF Notes The rate decision is often priced in the market so it tends to be overshadowed by the FOMC Statement which is focused on the future;
Why Traders
Care Short term interest rates are the paramount factor in currency valuation - traders look at most other indicators merely to predict how rates will change in the future;
Derived Via FOMC members vote on where to set the rate. The individual votes are published in the FOMC statement;
Also Called Interest Rates, Fed Funds Rate;
Acro Expand Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC);
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Source Federal Reserve (latest release)
Usual Effect More hawkish than expected = Good for currency;
Frequency Scheduled 8 times per year;
Next Release Sep 21, 2010
FF Notes The FOMC usually changes the statement slightly at each release. It's these changes that traders focus on.
Why Traders
Care It's the primary tool the FOMC uses to communicate with investors about monetary policy. It contains the outcome of their vote on interest rates and other policy measures, along with commentary about the economic conditions that influenced their votes. Most importantly, it discusses the economic outlook and offers clues on the outcome of future votes;
Also Called Interest Rate Statement, Fed Statement, Monetary Policy Statement;
Acro Expand Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC);