Traders have placed a near definite chance for the Federal Reserve to slow down its pace of interest rate hikes once again on Wednesday, when it finishes its February meeting, and then perhaps a cut later this year. Investors are right to be on a slower pace of rate increases. After raising rates aggressively seven times last year, the Fed in its latest summary of economic projections said median interest rates will go as high as 5.1% in 2023.