Vincent Boberski Quotations

I'd be awfully surprised if the Federal Reserve starts taking its cue from the central bank of Sweden or the Bank of England.

Fundamentally we think rates should be higher than they are, but we've thought that for the last couple of years. The Fed's got a couple more hikes in it, and will stop out at 5 percent.

I think the Fed will keep in 'measured pace.' There is no need for a major shift in the statement because economic conditions are similar to what they've been during the past couple of meetings.

They are obviously making the case to tighten. There is no justification to speed up or slow down. We will end the year with rates at 4 percent or 4.25 percent. It depends on whether the Fed wants to take one meeting to pause and assess where the economy is going.

Higher interest rates are beginning to take a toll on how people view their finances. Mortgage rates are nearly as high as they have been over the past three years, and the slowdown in the housing market is becoming more apparent. The jobs picture is encouraging, though, and higher incomes should help offset the negatives as we move into the spring and summer.

The market's reaction is a testament to how effective the Fed's strategy has been in telegraphing its interest-rate moves.