美聯儲維持利率不變 Global risks bring Fed into line with markets on next rate rises
The Federal Reserve has scaled back its forecasts for lifting interest rates this year, coming closer into line with market expectations for two quarter-point rises as it flagged up risks to the US outlook from global financial and economic developments.
美聯儲(Fed)調低了今年加息預測，接近市場對於兩次加息、每次四分之一點的預期。這家美國央行指出了全球金融和經濟發展給美國前景帶來的風險。
The Fed’s more dovish outlook on rate rises makes it less out of step with other central banks which are still intent on further monetary loosening to offset weaker global growth.
美聯儲在加息問題上轉向更具鴿派色彩的立場，使其減輕了與其他央行的步調不一致程度，目前不少央行仍有意進一步放寬貨幣政策，以抵消全球增長走弱。
Janet Yellen, the Fed chair, told a press conference that proceeding cautiously would “allow us to verify the labour market is continuing to strengthen despite the risks from abroad”.
美聯儲主席珍妮特•耶倫(Janet Yellen)在記者會上表示，審慎推進將會“讓我們驗證勞動力市場仍在繼續加強，儘管存在來自海外的風險。”
The US central bank kept its target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent, holding fire for a second meeting following its landmark quarter-point rate rise in December 2015.
美國央行將聯邦基金利率保持在0.25%到0.5%的目標範圍，繼去年12月進行里程碑式的加息四分之一點後，這是第二次按兵不動的會議。
Fed policymakers pared back forecasts of increases in short-term rates in the coming years, with the median prediction for 2016 dropping to two quarter-point rises, down from four pencilled in December.
美聯儲政策制定者調低了關於未來幾年上調短期利率的預測，2016年中值預測從去年12月預計的四次加息降至兩次。
Ms Yellen in December set the Fed on a course of gradual increases in short-term interest rates, but the outlook became clouded this year by plunging commodity and stock prices, haphazard policymaking in China and worries over weaker global growth.
去年12月耶倫領導美聯儲進入逐漸提升短期利率的軌道，但大宗商品和股價暴跌，中國政策制定的雜亂性，以及對全球經濟增長趨弱的擔憂，讓今年的前景變得陰雲密佈。
Fed rate-setters yesterday left their options open over the timing of the next rate increase, as they gave a broadly positive assessment of the US economy’s performance, noting that inflation had picked up, the labour market was strengthening and the economy had continued to expand moderately despite the hazards overseas.
美聯儲利率制定者昨天未確定下一次加息時機，他們對美國經濟表現給予了大致積極的評價，指出通脹有所上揚，勞動力市場正在加強，經濟仍在繼續適度擴張，儘管海外問題重重。
Despite recent improvements in markets, “global economic and financial developments continue to pose risks”, the statement said. The central bank added that inflation was expected to stay low in the medium term, before rising towards its 2 per cent target.
美聯儲在聲明中表示，雖然市場最近有所改善，“但全球經濟和金融形勢繼續構成風險”。美國央行還預計，通脹在升至2%的目標前，中期仍會保持在低水平。
