The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee surprised the financial markets Wednesday, opting not to reduce $85 billion in monthly asset purchases, sending the S&P 500 to a new lifetime high and pushing the interest rate on the 10-year Treasury note down more than 100 basis points. Below is a collection of comments from Fed watchers responses following the release of the FOMC statement: - Ian Shepherdson, Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Economist: "In one line: Delay is good policy the communications strategy is in pieces." - Paul Edelstein, IHS Global Insight Director of Financial Economics: "Given recent developments ... (full story)