M&G's Woolnough questions Fed's hesitation on rate rise

Laura Dew
clock •

Richard Woolnough, manager of the £24bn M&G Optimal Income fund, says he is at a loss to understand why the US is holding off on raising interest rates.

Speaking at the Fidelity FundsNetwork investment forum last week, Woolnough (pictured) was asked if he expects the US Federal Reserve to raise rates in December. The manager said positive economic data indicates they should be raised sooner than that.  "They should start raising rates earlier than December," he said. "I do not understand why they will not just get on with it as it takes 12-18 months for a rate rise to filter through to the economy." He pointed to the low unemployment figures in the US as a signal for rates to be increased. The US added 223,000 jobs in April, mainly...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Economics / Markets

Fahad Hassan: When good news becomes an inflation problem

Fahad Hassan: When good news becomes an inflation problem

'Markets have been adjusting to the risks through valuations all year'

Fahad Hassan
clock 29 September 2026 • 6 min read
Healey promises 'new age of industrialisation' ahead of Budget

Healey promises 'new age of industrialisation' ahead of Budget

Keeps quiet on personal taxation, pensions or savings at Labour’s conference

Isabel Baxter
clock 28 September 2026 • 2 min read
MPs warn policymakers to stop using OBR as scapegoat for tough fiscal decisions

MPs warn policymakers to stop using OBR as scapegoat for tough fiscal decisions

Treasury Committee report

Jack Roach
clock 23 September 2026 • 2 min read