FED: Although Federal Reserve policymakers did not raise interest
rates or even change their closely watched monetary policy guidance,
they did make a potentially significant rhetorical shift in their
assessment of the economy Tuesday. MNI’s Steve Beckner writes in the
post-FOMC analysis. There was perceptible movement in the direction of
eventual policy firming. The general thrust of the announcement, leading
up to the policy statement itself was distinctly more upbeat. See more
on the MNI main wire.