Full article The Fed held its benchmark interest rates at near zero, and opted to purchase at least US$120 billion in bonds each month The Federal Reserve concluded its final meeting of a tumultuous year on Wednesday, as policymakers weigh a mixed bag of economic signals in setting the central bank’s course for the new year and beyond. As expected, the Fed held its benchmark interest rates at near zero, and also opted to purchase at least US$120 billion in bonds each month “until substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals,” according to a statement from the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed's rate-setting group.