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10 things before the opening bell

Phil Rosen   

10 things before the opening bell

Happy Friday eve, readers. The Fed made its long-awaited policy move on Wednesday. Below, you'll find everything you want to know — including everything that it impacts and what's going to get more expensive.

Let's jump in.


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1. The Fed's first interest rate hike of 2022 has arrived. Looking to combat historic inflation, the $4 by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, matching most expectations.

It is a long-awaited move and one that brings an end to an unprecedented era of easy-money policies that kept the economy afloat and stock markets riding high through the pandemic.

"The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2% over the longer run," the Fed said in its $4.

Rates offered by lenders are directly influenced by the Fed's benchmark rate, and when the central bank hikes, $4 for everything from car loans, credit card payments, and mortgages. While higher borrowing costs impact consumers, the rate increase is also meant to provide some relief by taming inflation that's been running at the highest level since 1982.

But the rate hike doesn't mean the stock market can't climb higher, according to LPL Financial. $4 and the firm noted the S&P 500's gains during a run of 17 rate hikes from 2014 to 2016.

The broader economy, meanwhile, should be $4, said a global market strategist at JPMorgan.


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In other news:

2. Global shares are heading higher after the Fed's rate rise. With the event now in the rear-view mirror, investors are taking profit on some of their bullish bets and boosting things like commodities. $4

3. Earnings on deck: Accenture PLC, Heritage Global, and Canadian Solar Inc, $4.

4. Goldman Sachs warned the ongoing Ukraine crisis could trigger a global economic downturn. The bank's analysts broke down the three sectors that could be hardest hit by wartime supply shocks over the next few months — $4

5. Energy traders are begging central banks for emergency cash to prop up commodities markets. A group that includes BP, Shell, and ExxonMobil sent a letter to central banks asking for liquidity amid a worsening crisis in the energy market. $4

6. Mike Novogratz said bitcoin won't have a massive rally as the Fed hikes rates and war rages on in Ukraine. The long-time crypto bull said the current landscape may cause investors to re-evaluate riskier assets such as bitcoin. "Bitcoin is a narrative story, it's bringing people into the community. $4

7. Stock-buying fatigue among retail investors is the worst since 2020 — and it won't turn around anytime soon, Vanda said. The longer this year's market slump continues, said analysts, the more retail traders will tire. $4

8. There is some debate over the upside potential of Amazon's 20-for-1 stock split. Some commentators say that it's possible the move is just smoke and mirrors by the world's fifth largest company. $4

9. Confidence in the economy is eroding and fund managers are hoarding cash at a rate not seen since April 2020. But Bank of America said that professionals are still putting money into a specific three sectors. $4

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10. Retail and restaurant sales hit an all-time high in February. Americans went back to shopping after the winter Omicron wave, and spending rose 0.3% as inflation intensified last month. $4


Keep up with the latest markets news throughout your day by checking out The Refresh from Insider,>$4 a dynamic audio news brief from the Insider newsroom. Listen here.>$4

Curated by Phil Rosen in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email prosen@insider.com or tweet @philrosenn>$4.)

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