Chairman Jerome Powell confirmed what many expected. The Fed is ending the effort to "normalize" – long before interest rates and the central bank’s balance sheet size gets close to normal.

Financial markets are hopelessly addicted to stimulus. The central bank fostered the addiction and has no intention of forcing markets into withdrawal.

In fact, if stock prices deteriorate and growth continues to slow, investors can expect the Fed to quickly ramp up the stimulus, once again.

The FOMC announcement was a complete about face. Until December, Fed bankers acted confident their extraordinary policy measures had promoted sustainable economic growth. Now, after only modest monetary tightening, that growth appears to be in jeopardy.

It is good to see the mainstream financial press and more institutional voices on Wall Str ... Read more »