Hooya:
My humble take on the FOMC wording is that Sir is just preparing the markets for a future interest rate hike (as he has always done in the past). However, futures markets still suggest September 2004 for the first rate increase.
Of course, the actual decision will depend on future economic data releases. But, whereas strong data in the past, was taken as good news, in future it risks sparking concerns over potential rate increases.
The concern for interest rate watchers is that the US economy is growing well in excess of the current 1% interest rate. Either, rates have to go up or growth has to slow. Odds suggest a combination of both. This is not the end of the current cyclical bull market, but the first indication of the potential beginning of its end.
PS: markets couldn't care less about my views and will do what ever they have to do.
Just an attempt to stimulate a discussion.