The minutes also contained details of how the Fed might reduce the massive $4.5 trillion balance sheet it accumulated by purchasing Treasury and mortgage-backed securities during the recession. [The 6 million people the White House believes can balance its budget]Stocks jumped after the release of the Fed minutes. The Fed had forecast raising interest rates three times this year if the economy remained steady. At their meeting this month, central bankers weighed a potential method for reducing this balance sheet. The policy would lead to a gradual, predictable reduction in the Fed’s balance sheet that would be easy to communicate to the public.

Source: Washington Post May 24, 2017 18:09 UTC