Fed holds interest rates steady in first unanimous vote since May

The Federal Reserve is satisfied for now.

The Fed on Wednesday decided to hold interest rates steady after slashing them in their three previous meetings. Wednesday's vote was the first unanimous decision since May with all 10 members agreeing to keep things intact, although the board will obviously keep an eye on risks related to trade tensions and a global economic slowdown, The Wall Street Journal reports.

"The committee judges that the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate to support sustained expansion of economic activity," officials said in their policy statement.

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The Journal notes the Fed sounds a little more optimistic this time around, as well, having dropped language about "uncertainties" that appeared in their statement in October.

The sense is that things will remain stagnant for some time — Fed Chair Jerome Powell didn't signal that, despite all those previous cuts, any hikes were expected in the near future. Read more at The Wall Street Journal. Tim O'Donnell