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Powell dodges taper tantrum, OPEC+ meeting, and claims data due.

Markets reacted calmly when the Federal Reserve announced, as expected, that it will start tapering its asset purchases. Fed Chair Jerome Powell went to some lengths to emphasize that the pace of tapering does not imply there will be a rate hike any time soon. He said the committee will have to balance inflation prospects with what is happening in the labor market. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will be hoping for a similarly sanguine reaction to today’s policy decision. Markets have priced in a 15 basis point hike, while economists surveyed by Bloomberg are almost evenly split between a hike and a hold.