MNI BRIEF: Fed Could Start QT As Soon As June - Brainard

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard Tuesday said the U.S. central bank could begin rolling off assets from its balance sheet as soon as June.

"We'll decide as soon as May to start reducing the size of the balance sheet in which case those reductions could come as soon as June," she said at a WSJ event. "The combination of policy actions along these lines should bring the overall policy stance to a more neutral setting over time, but it's important to note that I don't look at one number, and I certainly don't just look at the policy rate because it's the combined impact of our balance sheet and the policy rate on financial conditions."

The Fed has indicated it will roll off about USD95 billion in assets at its peak pace, according to the March FOMC meeting minutes.