Market Reaction to Powell’s “Potential Rate Cut”

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s recent remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium—hinting that the “shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance”—have had a clear impact on markets.

1. Market Sentiment & Rate Expectations

• Probability of a September rate cut soared: The CME FedWatch tool now places the chance of a 25-basis-point cut at around 87%, up significantly from about 75% before Powell’s speech.
• Wall Street analysts updated their forecasts: Major brokerages (e.g., Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank) flipped to expecting not just a September cut but another one in December, whereas previously they had expected to hold rates steady until later or refrain entirely.

2. Bond Markets & Yields

• The bond market rallied sharply: The iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF jumped 0.6%, marking its strongest gain since early June.
• U.S. Treasury yields fell — notably, the 2-year yield dropped to its lowest level since August 13.

3. Stock Market Moves

• U.S. equities rallied: Major indexes like the Dow hit new yearly highs following Powell’s dovish tone.
• Technology sectors globally surged: In India, for example, stock benchmarks jumped, led by renewed gains in IT stocks on optimism that easier U.S. policy would support tech demand.
• Overall, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose sharply, reflecting broader investor confidence.

4. Ongoing Inflation and Labor Market Concerns

• Despite these dovish signals, inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, with core PCE around 2.9%. However, markets seem to be betting that labor market softness will take precedence as a policy driver.
• Powell emphasized a “curious balance” in the labor market: both supply and demand for workers have cooled, raising the risk of rapid deterioration in employment, especially as growth softens.

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Summary Table

Market Segment	Reaction & Significance
Rate Outlook	Markets now see a high likelihood of a rate cut in September; December also in play
Bond Market/Yields	Bonds up, yields down as expectations for easier rates grow
Equities	Stocks (especially tech) rally amid optimism for easing policy
Inflation & Jobs	Inflation remains elevated, but labor weakness is increasingly influencing Fed stance

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Bottom Line

Powell’s language has effectively shifted investor expectations toward imminent rate cuts, despite inflation still exceeding target. This dovish tilt has buoyed both bond and equity markets, with expectations now firmly centered on September followed potentially by December cuts—assuming upcoming data doesn’t swing the risk balance the other way.

Would you like to dive deeper into how this policy shift might affect specific sectors like housing, consumer credit, or emerging markets?

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