New Delhi, March 19 -- The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will meet on March 18 and 19 for its second monetary policy meeting of 2025. Amid increased market volatility caused by US President Donald Trump's newly implemented tariff policies, investors are closely watching the Federal Reserve's decision on benchmark interest rates.

The Fed's upcoming rate announcement is anticipated to keep short-term interest rates unchanged at 4.25 per cent to 4.50 per cent, with minimal chances of a rate reduction. These rates have held steady since December 2024, when policymakers forecasted two quarter-point cuts for 2025.

Since the last policy meeting, concerns have built up about stagflation risks in the US economy in response to the Trump ad...