Forecast when the Fed Reserve will increase interest rates again & how often?

Futures are pointing to no rate increases this year but I'm also gonna go with your same prediction of 2 rate hikes in 2016.

I'll go with 0. I think Feb to March are going to be pretty ugly in the equity market. A few months for a dead cat bounce and then ugly into 2017.

The Fed has painted themselves into a corner. Traditionally raising rates is a tool to fight inflation.

I believe there is an internal interest rate for a normal functioning economy. When it gets too hot, raise rates, when it gets too cool, lower them.

But because the Fed left the rates low for so long, I think it has effectively changed that internal rate. The whole mother's milk thing.

Interest rates were left so low for essentially 7 years. That's basically about the time of a typical economic cycle.

Our economy is by no means booming. Thus, raising rates will choke down growth. We don't really have any room to lower them, either.

I can't predict what the fed will do with any accuracy, because of the corner they are in. If I have to guess, I'll say no raises until after the fall elections.

As to the question of influence, I think if there was no politicial influence, rates would have gone up long before now.

Does anyone want to change his prediction?

I do.

No rate increases this year.

Sweden just went negative on their rates. How the hell does that work?