That said, officials "reaffirmed that it would be appropriate for policy to remain at a restrictive stance for some time until inflation was clearly moving down sustainably."

Bostic said he expects the US central bank will cut rates twice in 2024 — in the second half of the year — as inflation continues to slowly decline.

The Federal Reserve has allowed more than $1 trillion of assets to roll off its balance sheet. Chair Jerome Powell says he doesn't believe reserves in the banking system are nearing a level that would cause the Fed to slow down or stop.

Benchmark two-year yields, those most closely tied to the outlook for US central-bank policy, rose as much as 14 basis points, the most in a day since June.

Investors are pricing in more than a 50% chance the Fed will lower borrowing costs in March, and expect the central bank's benchmark rate will fall to around 4% by the end of 2024.

Yields dropped across the US curve after data showed job openings fell to the lowest level since March 2021. Concerns about investors being too fast in anticipating policy easing have resurfaced.

While the Fed chief said officials are ready to hike further if needed, he also noted policy is "well into restrictive territory." Two-year yields sank 13 basis points to 4.55%.

The financial services industry has run TV ads during football games and organized lobbying visits by small-business owners in its fight against the Basel III endgame plan to raise capital requirements for larger lenders. The tactics are beginning to show signs of working.

In her first remarks since the release of a sweeping report on the banks, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson urges them to strengthen underwriting and communication with their members' regulators.

The annual inflation rate has dropped to 3.2% in October from its 2022 peak of more than 9% after the Federal Reserve embarked on an aggressive campaign to cool price pressures.