No evidence that Fed’s balance sheet is behind market swings: Mester

CINCINNATI (Reuters) – Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester on Tuesday said she has not seen evidence that the Federal Reserve’s shrinking balance sheet has caused disruption in financial markets.

Mester told a Financial Executives International event in Cincinnati that the reduction of the trillions of dollars of bonds the Fed bought during the financial crisis has been gradual. Some investors see the policy rollback hurting demand for some financial assets.

Mester’s remarks came after a speech during which the policymaker said the Fed will chart plans to end the balance sheet runoff “at coming meetings” to help the central bank meet its policy objectives.