10 January 2001, 21:16  A 50 basis point cut in the federal funds rate at the Jan. 31 FOMC meeting is

virtually certain because Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will not want to disappoint expectations for a move of that size built into the market, former Fed Governor Wayne Angell said Wednesday. Angell, in a conference call with market participants and a subsequent interview with Market News International, said he foresees further rate cuts beyond Jan. 31, taking the funds rate down to 5% by mid-year. He said he sees no chance of another rate cut in advance of the FOMC meeting. The Fed cut the funds rate from 6.5% to 6% a week ago and continued to tilt toward further easing in its rate announcement. This week, however, two Federal Reserve Bank Presidents, Atlanta's Jack Guynn and Boston's Cathy Minehan, gave upbeat assessments of the economy's prospects. They predicted real GDP growth of 2-3% with continued low unemployment. Angell, chief economist for Bear Stearns, said he does not agree with the two Fed presidents' forecasts in the longer term, projecting growth could recover to 4% in the second half. But he said he is assuming another 100 basis points of Fed easing, beginning with another 50 on Jan. 31.

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