Highlights of the October 30, 2013 Federal Reserve’s FOMC statement:
                        
                    - Fed funds rate held at 0-0.25%, as expected
 - Monthly bond purchases remain at $85 billion/month, as expected
 - No change to forward guidance on interest rates
 - Fed says data since Sept meeting generally suggests economy continued to expand at a moderate pace
 - Repeats that downside risks to the outlook have diminished on net since last Fall
 - Inflation running below Fed’s goal but longer term expectations stable
 - Indications of labor market have showed some further improvement but unemployment remains elevated
 - Fiscal policy restraining growth
 - Recovery in housing sector slowed
 - George dissented