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A heavily divided Federal Reserve left short-term interest rates unchanged yesterday but said the case for a rate increase had strengthened, in a strong signal that a move is likely before the end of the year.
分歧严重的美联储(Fed)昨日维持短期利率不变，但表示加息理由增强，这是一个强烈信号，暗示美联储可能在今年年底前加息。
Three of the US central bank’s 10 policymakers voted for an immediate rise. But the Fed said that for the time being it wanted to keep policy on hold as it waits for further evidence of progress towards its objectives. It left the target range for the federal funds rate at 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent.
在美联储10位政策制定者中，有3人投票支持立即加息。但美联储表示，目前希望维持政策不变，等待数据向其目标接近的进一步证据。美联储将联邦基金目标利率设在0.25%至0.5%之间。
The opposition was a notable departure given Fed chair Janet Yellen’s previous efforts to keep dissent to a minimum, underscoring the intensity of the current policy debate the US central bank.
鉴于美联储主席珍妮特•耶伦(Janet Yellen)此前曾努力将反对意见降至最低，反对的强度引人关注，突显出美联储当前政策辩论的激烈性。
“The Committee judges that the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened, but decided, for the time being, to wait for further evidence of continued progress toward its objectives,” the Federal Open Market Committee said. It added that the risks to the outlook were “roughly balanced” — a further signal that a move could come by the end of 2016.
联邦公开市场委员会(FOMC)表示：“委员会认为，上调联邦基金利率的理由已增强，但目前决定等待数据向其目标继续接近的进一步证据。”该委员会补充称，经济前景风险“大体平衡”，这进一步表明今年年底前可能会加息。
The Fed has been blowing hot and cold on the prospects of a second rate move this year after being stung by rocky financial market movements after its increase last December. Overseas hazards have tended to be the cause of delay, among them uncertainties over Chinese foreign exchange policies and the UK’s vote to leave the EU.
美联储在去年12月加息之后被金融市场的动荡吓住，因此今年以来一直对第二次加息前景摇摆不定。海外风险往往是推迟加息的原因，其中包括围绕中国外汇政策的不确定性以及英国公投退出欧盟。
The Fed’s decision was particularly highly charged given the political context. The US faces a highly consequential presidential election in less than two months’ time. Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has repeatedly attacked the Fed for keeping rates low, claiming this was at the behest of President Barack Obama.
考虑到当前的政治环境，美联储的决定尤其具有高度的政治色彩。美国还有不到两个月的时间就会举行事关重大的总统选举。共和党总统候选人唐纳德•特朗普(Donald Trump)屡次抨击美联储保持低利率的决定，宣称这是听命于巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)总统行事。
The Fed’s next meeting is just days before the November 8 election, making it a difficult moment to change policy. Its final meeting is on December 13-14.
美联储的下一次会议在11月8日大选前几天举行，这让它很难调整政策。美联储今年最后一次会议在12月13日至14日举行。
The decision to hold rates marks another chapter in the most glacial rate-raising cycle in recent times, underscoring the disappointing economic recovery since the financial crash.
保持利率不变的决定标志着近年最缓慢的加息周期进入新的一章，突显出自金融危机以来经济复苏令人失望。
