Fed's Bostic: Not sure yet how sanctions on Russia will impact economy

Dr. Raphael W. Bostic who is the chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is currently speaking and has said that the US economy is "still quite strong" as officials try to figure out the economy "in real time".

Bostic said companies and output remain constrained by the inability to find workers but when it comes to demand and spending, "people are ready to go".

Key comments

No clear evidence demand will fall off in the coming months; growth is expected to continue.

Modal outlook is not for the recession, but "eventually there will be some slowdown" in growth.

Not sure yet how sanctions on Russia will impact the economy.

Uncertainty could lead to some retrenchment of investment.

Fed is going to "let the data guide us" in upcoming decisions.

Fed needs to move off of emergency policy stance and can do so without jeopardizing employment.

Businesses feel need to adjust wages, but not clear that will persist.

Have not seen worrisome changes yet in long-term inflation expectations.

Market implications

There has been no reaction in the US dollar to the comments. However, Fed tightening expectations have fallen a bit which has been weighing:

With that being said, the US economic data remain strong and the Fed is still on track to tighten aggressively this year.  

''If and when some sort of diplomatic solution to Ukraine is eventually reached, US yields should continue their upward trend and help pull the dollar higher as well,'' analysts at Brown Brothers Harriman argued. On the other hand, even if tensions were to intensify this week, the analysts added that ''risk-off sentiment should also boost the dollar due to the so-called dollar smile.'