On Wednesday, February 20, the US Federal Reserve released the minutes of the most recent Federal market Open Committee meeting. In their statement that followed the meeting and the minutes that followed, the central bank pledged to monitor the data with patience when it comes to further short-term interest rate hikes. After four increases in the Fed Funds rate last year that took it one full percentage point higher, it appears that the Fed has completed its goal of tightening credit to a level that both promotes economic growth and prevents the economy from overheating,