Business Highlights: Fed Makes Shift, Stocks End Higher

The Federal Reserve will quicken the pace at which its pulling back its support for the postpandemic U.S. economy as inflation surges, and it expects to raise interest rates three times next year. In an abrupt policy shift, the Fed announced that it will shrink its monthly bond purchases at twice the pace it previously announced, likely ending them in March. The bond purchases were intended to hold down longterm rates to aid the economy but are no longer needed with unemployment falling and inflation at a near40year high. The accelerated timetable puts the Fed on a path to start raising rates in the first half of next year. Business Highlights: Fed Makes Shift, Stocks End Higher