Analysts: Powell's forward guidance may be limited; more attention should be paid to his future actions.

With the market widely expecting the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged at this meeting, some analysts say the more pressing question is the future direction of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell: will he remain in his position or leave the Fed when his term ends on May 15? One analyst stated, "Regardless of his plans, we believe that given Kevin Warsh's likely confirmation as his successor, Powell's forward guidance on policy in his final press conference as chairman will be quite limited." He added, "We believe Powell will take a more reflective tone when reviewing his tenure—leaving behind a picture of a healthy economy, but still some distance from the 2% inflation target. With peace talks between Iran and the US stalled and the long-term blockade of the Strait of Hormuz seemingly becoming the new normal, we believe the FOMC's resolve to maintain interest rates has further strengthened." (Jinshi)