Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said he's seen enough data to be comfortable with a rate cut at the Federal Open Market Committee meeting later this month.

The central bank has been under pressure to modernize its last-resort lending operation since the failure of three large regional banks last year.

The Federal Reserve Chair's words were enough to send Treasury yields and the dollar lower and stocks higher on Friday as investors perceived a green light to take on risk. 

Two Federal Reserve officials said they believe it's appropriate for the U.S. central bank to begin lowering interest rates soon, and that the pace of subsequent cutting should be "gradual" and "methodical."

Industry economists are now confident about predictions for mortgage rate movements through the end of next year; the question is if that translates to increased home sales.

Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman said she has concerns about an uptick in inflation and will need to see more positive data before supporting an interest rate cut.

Borrowing costs have fallen to their lowest level in more than a year as inflation metrics drop to 2021 levels, seemingly vindicating the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain their restrictive monetary policy.

Over the weekend Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said setting interest rates should be a "political decision" with input from elected officials.

Nine federal regulatory agencies are requesting comment on a rule that would create data standards for supervisory information collected and submitted to financial regulators.

As Treasuries advance for a third-straight month, investors are fully pricing in at least two quarter-point rate reductions this year, slightly more than what policymakers have telegraphed.