Federal Reserve policymakers yesterday (Wednesday) reduced the benchmark Federal Funds rate to 1.0%, an aggressive half-percentage-point cut that central bank Chairman Ben S. Bernanke’s latest attempt to keep the widening financial crisis from tipping the world into a global recession.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to cut rates tomorrow (Wednesday), possibly in conjunction with central bank counterparts in Europe, as fears of a global recession have intensified. However, the Fed has little room to maneuver as its benchmark Federal Funds rate is already at 2% and analysts remain skeptical that reducing it any further keep the United States from sliding into a prolonged recession.

Despite the chaos on Wall Street, the Fed yesterday left its benchmark interest rate on hold at 2%.

Martin Hutchinson says the Fed has finally starting doing its job: putting price stability over Wall Street’s demands. Real interest rates are negative. This is feeding inflation. It also means Treasury bond yields - also currently below the rate of inflation - are too low and should begin to rise again.

Martin says investors can profit from this situation with the Rydex Juno Inverse Government Long Bond Strategy (MUTF:RYJUX).

Once again, the entire world tuned in for the Fed-sponsored dog and pony show this week. As usual, the Fed’s meeting managed to slow market activity before the FOMC decision, and then (drum roll please)…

If U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers make the expected quarter-point rate cut at the end of their meeting today (Wednesday), the impact will be felt well beyond U.S. borders.

It’s no surprise that the U.S. dollar is finally mustering a bear market rally (in truth, our currency experts have been predicting a dollar bounce for quite some time).

The U.S. rates are going lower, and you can take that to the bank! OK, well…Maybe the legal beagles won’t like me saying that, so, let’s just say, I think that you should think that U.S. rates are going lower.