The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hovered near the flatline while the Dow Jones gained almost 200 points on Wednesday, with traders refraining from making big bets ahead of the FOMC's policy decision later in the day. The Fed is widely expected to cut the fed funds rate by 25 bps, with investors closely watching for any dissents, signs of disagreement, and the updated dot plot for clues on the future policy path. On the data front, both housing starts and building permits came in weaker than expected. Utilities and consumer staples were the top performing sectors while consumer discretionary...
US stocks closed mixed on Wednesday (September 18) as investors weighed the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook following an anticipated 25 bps rate cut. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell 0.1% and 0.3%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 260 points, driven by gains in traditional sectors. The FOMC median projection suggests two more rate cuts this year, but strong growth, low unemployment, and upward revisions to core inflation raise doubts about the pace of easing in 2026. Chairman Powell also signaled caution, refraining from expressing confidence in further...
The Nikkei 225 advanced 0.4% toward 45,000 while the Topix added 0.1% to 3,150 on Thursday, with Japanese stocks rebounding from the prior session after the US Federal Reserve delivered a quarter-point rate cut as expected. The Fed also projected two more cuts this year but only one in 2026, countering market bets for two or three reductions next year. Domestically, the Bank of Japan began its two-day policy meeting, with rates widely expected to be left unchanged as officials assess the impact of US tariffs on Japan's export-driven economy. Still, analysts noted the BOJ could lift rates...