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Come the 18th of September, you'll find most newspapers and TV channels strutting to cover the impact of the <keyword id="19900043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fed" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Fed" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Fed">Fed</keyword>'s potential rate change on Indian stock markets. Policymakers there have held the central bank's interest stable since July last year, within the range of 5.25% to 5.5%, to dash down inflationary pressures gripping the <keyword id="20335130" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-economy" source="keywords">US economy</keyword>. This much criticised wait-and-watch approach, after the <keyword id="19900043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fed" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Fed" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Fed">Fed</keyword> held the rates stable in its most recent meeting in July, seems to be yielding some fruits now. US consumer price index (<keyword id="20468215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CPI" source="keywords">CPI</keyword>) slowed down to 2.5% in August, down from 2.9% in July. With inflationary pressures approaching the 2% target mandated by Fed, experts were hoping of a 50-basis point reduction in interest rates this time. However, employment data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics this month painted a less than rosy picture. Little has changed in August for unemployment rates and numbers, which stood at 4.2% and 7.1 million respectively. If anything, the numbers were elevated from year-ago period, when jobless rate was 3.8% and the number of unemployed people stood at 6.3 million. Experts now believe a 25-basis point reduction in interest rates is imminent, since some positive changes were seen on the employment front. The total number of nonfarm payroll employment jumped by 1,42,000 in August, but still stayed well below the average monthly gain of 2,02,000 Says Raj Patel, CMO at MintCFD, a trading platform, "A 25 bps could show muted results from the market, however, a major rate cut in the magnitude of 50 bps could generate negative reactions, since it might show that the Fed is signaling major concerns about the economic outbreak. Indicators such as the retail sales, consumer confidence index, and services PMI are on a positive note. The Fed is focusing more on employment as the average US unemployment rate over the last three months, up to July, has increased by 0.5% as compared to the lowest point in the past year". But why are <keyword id="19991358" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-markets" source="keywords">Indian markets</keyword> always so jittery about interest rate changes in the US? And should you be worried? We decode it for you. Rate hike and cuts impacts foreign investments Generally, large institutional investors borrow funds from the US and other developed economies, and invest in India, China and other emerging countries, anticipating economic growth, and hence, potential for increased returns in the times to come. This influx of funds is crucial for growing countries, since they use it to develop their infrastructure, which will in turn, bolster their economic growth. The cost of raising funds from countries like US is relatively cheaper, given the interest rates here are not very high. On the other hand, borrowing costs in emerging countries like India are higher. At present, India's repo, or borrowing rate, at which banks borrow funds from <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>, stands at 6.5%. While this may seem like a trivial difference, it decides the fate of trillions of dollars of investments. Even a 25-basis point hike or cut could bring about a significant difference when such huge sums are involved. So, when Fed decides to hold the interest rate stable, or hike the same, it makes borrowing to invest in international markets expensive for investors. At the same time, it makes investing in US treasury bonds more lucrative and economically favorable, since investors are set to earn higher returns from them. As a result, investors rush to withdraw their money from other economies, and invest it in their own country i.e. the US. For instance, in January 2024, Fed decides to keep the interest rate stable between the range of 5.25% to 5.5%. As a result, <keyword id="19991358" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-markets" source="keywords">Indian markets</keyword> saw an outflux of foreign investment that month, with investors withdrawing Rs 6,593 crores from markets. Between March 2022 and July 2023, the Fed hiked interest rates about 11 times. As a result, during FY23, foreign investors remained net sellers, liquidating Rs 40,936 crore from Indian markets. When Fed decides to slash rates, which makes borrowing cheaper, investors are encouraged to raise more funds, and invest more heavily in developing countries. This anticipation of funds stimulate the stock markets in a positive manner, which is why it is beneficial situation for countries like India, which, eventually, see greater investments from US and other economies. China and India are generally seen as favorite destinations for investors. With the Chinese economy in doldrums at the moment, India can expect higher foreign direct investments (FDI) in the months to come. Just yesterday, China cut down interest rates on about $5 trillion worth of its outstanding loans, in a bid to spur consumption and borrowing in the economy. But do not expect any immediate boosts in the equity market, as many experts caution. There have been many instances in the past where rate cuts did not boost equities immediately. This is because rate cuts are not the sole factor driving investments. If the corporates report slowed earnings, or weak growth, investors are bound to be discouraged from investing in the country. Your best bet is to invest in sectors which have traditionally withstood market downturns, like insurance, telecoms and pharmaceuticals, and reduce exposure to sectors which are significantly affected by market cycles (think PSUs, auto, metals etc).

With Fed rate cuts imminent, what can you expect from the Indian markets next week?

After a 10.2% increase last year, <keyword id="19910265" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gold-prices" source="keywords">gold prices</keyword> are expected to rise another 9.9%, <keyword id="22706139" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infomerics-Ratings" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Infomerics Ratings" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Infomerics Ratings">Infomerics Ratings</keyword> said in a report, attributing largely to the <keyword id="20132853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Middle-East-crisis" source="keywords">Middle East crisis</keyword> involving Iran and Israel. The dragged <keyword id="20130144" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="geopolitical-crisis" source="keywords">geopolitical crisis</keyword> in the Middle East has spurred a rush into safe-haven assets such as gold. Historically, gold, as an asset, is considered a haven as it typically manages to retain or appreciate its underlying value in times of turbulence. "But this rise would now partly be offset by the reduced duty cut (in India)," said the Infomerics Ratings report. Historical trends, such as the surge during the Russia-Ukraine war, highlight gold's role as a safeguard against inflation and market instability during <keyword id="19982403" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-uncertainties" source="keywords">global uncertainties</keyword>. Prices of gold, considered safe investment bets, have seen a mild correction after the latest stellar bull run. Gold has been in demand for a considerable period, with its prices rallying to hit record highs now and then. Geopolitical conflict in West Asia that stretched for a long time, buying by several central banks, including the RBI, and physical demand, have altogether pushed gold prices northwards. Gold is a scarce commodity, and any mismatch in demand-supply conditions may invariably trigger a sharp price rise. "Gold's diverse uses, in jewellery, technology and by central banks and investors, mean different sectors of the gold market rise to prominence at different points in the global economic cycle. This diversity of demand and self-balancing nature of the gold market underpin gold's robust qualities as an investment asset," said Infomerics Ratings. Festive season buying, a weak dollar, uncertainty surrounding the US elections, and possible Fed rate cuts in September could raise prices, the report noted. In the wake of the presentation of the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> on July 23, 2024, by the Finance Minister, gold prices in India declined sharply. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slashed the import duty on gold from 15% to 6% in the Budget presented on July 23. Days after the Budget, gold became cheaper by Rs 6,200 in most states of India. In the capital Delhi, the price of 10 grams of 24 carat gold came down to about Rs 69,140. "With surging demand for gold, especially as the <keyword id="19896655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wedding-season" source="keywords">wedding season</keyword> approaches, gold prices are likely to rise this financial year, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, robust central bank buying, and expectations of <keyword id="21050688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Fed-rate-cuts" source="keywords">US Fed rate cuts</keyword>." Infomerics Ratings report said. In India, gold has strong cultural and religious significance. As per <keyword id="20195223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Gold-Council" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Gold Council" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Gold Council">World Gold Council</keyword>, India is one of the largest consumers of gold jewellery, accounting for about 25% of global gold demand. The demand for gold in India is primarily driven by weddings and festivals, making it an integral part of the country's culture and traditions. Touching upon regulatory structure and challenges in the gold sector, the report noted that the regulatory landscape for the gold industry in India is fragmented. "The regulatory landscape for the gold industry in India is fragmented, involving multiple circulars and notifications from various authorities such as the RBI, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, DGFT, Customs, and others. This patchwork of regulations leads to confusion, inefficiency, and difficulty in compliance, as stakeholders must navigate through numerous documents to understand the rules," the report read.

Gold shines as demand for safe haven asset strong; Infomerics Ratings anticipates 10% price jump this year

<div type="image" title="In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit" msid="114284206" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> On September 18, 2024, the <keyword id="19951097" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="us-fed" source="keywords">US Fed</keyword> delivered a jumbo-sized surprise to the global economy. Not only did they trim their interest rates by a massive 50 basis points to bring their yields down to 5%, but also hinted at further rate cuts in the upcoming months. This move from the fed and several other central banks globally had pushed expectations high for a similar rate slash closer home, from the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> this month. But governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, in a “picture abhi baaki hai” moment, decided to hold the repo rates here steady, leaving them unchanged at 6.5% for the record 10th straight time. Although, he did tinker with the policy stand, changing it from “rate cuts are absolutely off the table” to a more accommodating “we’re okay with bringing down the rates, if needed”. This, rather neutral, stance from India’s financial custodian sparked hopes for a rate cut in December this year. However, the stubborn <keyword id="22195" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="Orion">inflation</keyword> levels in September have again dented such hopes. As consumers, you may be wondering what all the hullabaloo this is about, since it hardly makes a difference to your regular financial routine. Well, the majority of both economic growth and inflation is closely connected to this policy stance from the central bank and it does have a rather indirect effect on both our earnings and spending. But more directly, it would have clear implications for those looking to own a house. Even the slightest modification of interest rates, or the lack of it, influences the <keyword id="19916018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emi" source="keywords">EMI</keyword> you pay significantly. So, all aspiring homebuyers, is this the right time to take out a loan and buy a house? Can you expect a rate cut anytime soon, and what will that mean for your home-owning dreams? We lay it out. <h2>What’s the connection?</h2>You see, buying a house is no small feat, at least financially. The task becomes even more herculean if you are scouting for your own roof in cities like Delhi, Noida, Bangalore or Mumbai where, as Circuit from Munnabhai says, “room shuru hote hi khatam ho jata hai”. Naturally, you’ll have to take a <keyword id="6354730" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan" source="Orion">home loan</keyword> from the bank. Don’t be mistaken, the bank won't give you a loan that covers 100% of the value of the property you want to own. Rather, your loan amount will be equivalent to a certain percentage of the property’s total value. RBI’s guidelines on this are pretty clear: <ul><li>If your loan amount is up to Rs 30 lakh, you can get a loan worth 90% of the property’s value.</li></ul><ul><li>If the loan amount is between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 75 lakh, you are eligible for a loan worth 80% of the property’s value. </li><li>If you are taking a loan of more than Rs 75 lakh, your loan amount will be equivalent to 70% of the property’s value. </li></ul>Now assuming that you have the money, it's all about paying back the principal amount, but not without a little (read hefty) interest added on top. See, when you’re taking a home loan, you are actually signing up for a long-term, even multi-decadal financial commitment, which will unfailingly present itself to your bank accounts and finances every single month, in the form of EMIs, or equated monthly instalments). When you take a home loan, you can choose to pay the interest in two ways (talk about choices!). One is that you decide to keep a fixed rate of interest throughout the tenure of your home loan. So, if you opt for a 25-year fixed-rate home loan at the rate of 8.8% p.a., you’ll have to pay interest at this rate for the next 25 years, till your entire loan is paid off. Yes, you can go backsies and switch to a floating-rate home loan by paying a fee. Floating, as the name suggests, means that your interest rate is not set in stone. But starting October 2019, when it comes to a floating interest rate home loan, your payable interest and EMIs are directly impacted by any changes in <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword>, which were left unchanged by RBI this time around. Why are these two so chummy, you might ask. Well, <keyword id="173069" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan-interest" source="Orion">home loan interest</keyword> rates are a sum of two things: <ol><li>Repo Rate (the rate at which RBI lends money to banks)</li><li>Operational cost + margins</li></ol>Any plus or minus in this equation would send your home loan interests tanking, or skyrocketing. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat explains that any change in the repo rates impacts the cost of funds and thereby the home loan interest rates. “When the interest rates are expected to reduce, the corresponding impact will be in the form of a reduced EMI. Home loan borrowers should always try to borrow at a floating rate when interest rates are expected to reduce and at a fixed rate when the interest rates are expected to increase. This minimizes the outflow in the form of EMIs that the home loan borrowers will experience”, he continues. So, no change in repo rates means no change in your home loan interest payout and no financial relief whatsoever. A rate cut, which most experts are anticipating will start this December, would mean your EMI payments come down, and your wallet might save a little more. But there’s also a chance of an UNO reverse happening. In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Consider this. You took a floating interest rate home loan worth Rs 50 lakh in January 2022 at 8% p.a., for a period of 20 years. This brings your total monthly EMI to Rs Rs 41,822. But, as luck would (or won't) have it, RBI raised the interest rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023, bringing it to its current status of 6.5%. Some back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that now, your home loan interest payout will also rise by a hefty 2.5%, taking the total to 10.5%. In other words, you’ll have to dish out Rs 49,919 per month as EMI. Now, won't you heave a sigh of relief if the RBI were to bring down the interest rate by say, even 50 basis points, or 0.5%? Agreed, your EMI will come down just marginally, to Rs 48,251. But look at this over a 20-year period, and you’ll see how big the difference is. <h2>Are rates set to change anytime soon?</h2>Generally, RBI hikes the repo rates if it sees inflation spiralling out of control. Then, in a bid to reduce consumer spending, it raises interest rates to make borrowing expensive. But when the apex bank sees sluggish consumption in the economy, inflation in control and wants to boost spending, it slashes down on interest rates, making it more lucrative for people to borrow. As of now, most experts are not anticipating any changes in the interest rates anytime soon. This means home loans are not getting cheaper anytime soon. The CPI data, which came out yesterday, saw inflation rise to 5.49% in September, compared to 3.65% last month. Food and beverage prices jumped to a four-month high of 8.36% in September, as opposed to a 5.3% rise in August. So a rate cut seems a no-go at the moment! Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities explains that the RBI had probably expected a hardening of inflation and that's why it chose to hold on to the rates in the monetary policy announcement last week. “Now, it seems that RBI will take a cautious stance going ahead and will not be in a hurry into rate cuts like its global peers”, he added. In all this, one thing is clear, in the grand movie of the Indian economy, the RBI has chosen stability over drama. And just like in every good Bollywood film, we're left wondering what twist the sequel will bring. Until then, it might be “The End" for rate cuts, but the show must go on for the Indian economy!

Simply Put: Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indexes slipped Thursday as traders focused on remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.</li><li>Powell said the Fed is in no hurry to cut rates, and reiterated the strength of the US economy.</li></ul>Indexes ended lower on Thursday, with the election rally fizzling out as traders digested remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and assessed the latest inflation data. The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq fell more than 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost over 200 points. The 10-year Treasury yield, meanwhile, remained nearly flat at 4.447%, hovering close to its highest level since July.Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Thursday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,949.17, down 0.6% </li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 43,750.86, down 0.47% (-207.33 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 19,107.65, down 0.64%</li></ul>The slide comes after Powell signaled the Fed is in no rush to cut interest rates while the US economy remains on solid footing. "The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates," Powell said during prepared remarks at an event in Dallas. "The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully."Powell added the US has had the best domestic growth of any major economy, and emphasized the strength of the labor market. He said the October jobs report's slowing job growth was largely due to storm-related damage.Powell's comments come as investors seek hints of the Fed's intended easing path after a 25 basis point cut last week. Trump's election win has sparked worries that inflation could rise again under his proposals for broad tariffs and mass deportations, which could cause the Fed to pause rate hikes, economists say.Traders expect the central bank to cut another 25 basis points at its December meeting before pausing in January, according to the CME <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">FedWatch tool</a>.Powell's comments also follow the latest inflation reading which shows wholesale prices rose 0.2% in October, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The data was in line with expectations but showed inflation remains somewhat sticky, with a year-over-year increase of 2.4%.The core producer price index, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.3% in the month and 3.1% year-over-year.Meanwhile, jobless claims data on Thursday, showed weekly claims dropped to their lowest since May, falling to 217,000 last week. That marks a 4,000 decline from the week prior.Here's what else is going on:<ul><li>Investors are underestimating how deep <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-2025-trump-tariff-inflation-growth-2024-11">rate cuts will be in 2025</a>, Goldman Sachs says.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/electric-vehicle-stocks-trump-end-ev-tax-credit-tesla-rivian-2024-11?_gl=1*1794use*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTYxNjYwOS40MTAuMS4xNzMxNjE3NjM3LjIyLjAuMA..">EV makers slid</a> on report Trump wants to scrap the EV tax credit.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/disney-stock-price-3q-earnings-streaming-profit-guidance-cruise-parks-2024-11?_gl=1*6r1dtf*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTYxNjYwOS40MTAuMS4xNzMxNjE3NjUxLjguMC4w">Disney stock surged</a> as rare three-year forecast sees strong profit growth ahead.</li><li>China's weak economy and record US production will lead to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/oil-outlook-supply-crude-prices-us-production-china-opec-2024-11?_gl=1*1he4945*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTYxNjYwOS40MTAuMS4xNzMxNjE3NjcwLjYwLjAuMA..">surplus</a> of one million barrels of oil a day next year, IEA says.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures were up. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wti">West Texas Intermediate crude</a> rose 0.3% to $68.63 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, climbed 0.3% to $72.48 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> rose fell 0.5% to $2,572 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury was nearly flat at 4.447%.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> was down 1.4% to $87,531. </li></ul>

Stock market today: Indexes fall as Powell says the Fed is in no hurry to cut interest rates

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="23254035" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-improvement-retailers" source="keywords">Home improvement retailers</keyword> are among the first to see a lift from the Fed's rate cut.</li><li>Share prices for <keyword id="20320193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-Depot" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Home Depot" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Home Depot">Home Depot</keyword> and <keyword id="23254034" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lowes" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Lowe's" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Lowe's">Lowe's</keyword> are up, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rates-cut-jerome-powell-labor-market-mortgage-pantheon-2024-9">spending on projects is expected to follow</a>.</li></ul>The US Federal Reserve's decision Wednesday to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cuts-interest-rates-how-much-september-fomc-powell-inflation-2024-9">cut rates by half a percentage point</a> has created a flurry of immediate reactions, but the real effects of the policy are likely to take several months to bear out. Still, some areas of the economy are already seeing a lift in response to the news — and the fact that the Fed went with the larger of the two most likely options under consideration. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/comparing-lowes-vs-home-depot-2023-12">Home improvement retailers,</a> in particular, are among the companies who were primed to come out of the gate strong with a rate cut, and, true to form, shares for Home Depot and Lowe's were up as of Thursday's market close. "Home-related companies should soon see the beginnings of fundamental recovery exiting this year," Mizuho analyst David Bellinger told Business Insider. "Aside from any initial noise in the market, Home Depot and Lowe's should keep grinding higher as all this comes together." And while a rising <keyword id="19998639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stock-price" source="keywords">stock price</keyword> carries its own benefits for a company, the uptick is a signal of a much more important change still to come: sales. Executives for both Home Depot and Lowe's have characterized their businesses as being constrained by low housing turnover and high borrowing costs, both of which are results of the Fed's tight interest rate policy. Home Depot CFO Richard McPhail described his company's core customer as having "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/home-depot-earnings-americans-in-deferral-mindset-consumer-spending-2024-8">a deferral mindset</a>" in spite of being in a generally healthy financial position. In short, most <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-doing-less-diy-worrying-sign-economy-lowes-earnings-2024-8">big-ticket spending on home improvement</a> comes from one of two places: people buying and selling homes and homeowners renovating existing homes with borrowed money. Unless they have to fix something urgently, a lot of folks have decided they're better off waiting to upgrade. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell talked about the impact on the <keyword id="20759748" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="housing-market" source="keywords">housing market</keyword> in his remarks following Wednesday's announcement. "The housing market is in part frozen because of lock-in with low rates. People don't want to sell their home," he said. "As rates come down, people will start to move more, and that's probably beginning to happen already." What's more, Powell signaled in his speech that further cuts are likely if the data support them, which can encourage some of those sitting on the sidelines to go ahead with a new mortgage or credit line with the expectation that they can simply <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/personal-loans/how-to-refinance-personal-loan">refinance</a> in a few months when rates come down further. Additionally, Home Depot and Lowe's have taken great care to manage investor expectations through the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lowes-dicks-macys-sound-alarm-us-shoppers-spending-2023-8">slumping sales and slimmer profits</a> over the past year. In particular, both companies <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/home-depot-1-billion-wage-boost-improved-worker-safety-satisfaction-2023-5">continued to invest in their stores</a> with the expectation that pent-up demand would eventually be unlocked. (Truist Securities analyst Scot Ciccarelli has referred several times to a "coiled spring" for the retailers.) Max Rakhlenko, a TD Securities analyst, said in a note on Wednesday that Lowe's management was expecting a "phased recovery" in which homeowners start with smaller projects before getting more comfortable with larger ones that require tapping into their house's equity. "We're aggressively working in this downturn," Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison said during his earnings call last month, adding, "Whenever the macro inflection occurs, we just want to be ready to take advantage of it." It appears Ellison may not have to wait much longer. Correction: September 20, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated the day a TD Securities analyst sent out his note on Lowe's. It was Wednesday, not Thursday.

Home Depot and Lowe's are already seeing the first of many likely benefits from the Fed's rate cut

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Wednesday.</li><li>It's the first interest-rate cut in over four years.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-decision-this-week-federal-reserve-powell-inflation-2024-9">An interest-rate cut</a> has arrived — and it's a big one.On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced it would be cutting interest rates by 50 basis points. It's the first time the Federal Reserve has cut rates since March 2020.This puts an end to the central bank's aggressive inflation fighting during the pandemic and confirms Fed Chair Jerome Powell's remarks during his address at Jackson Hole last month, during which he said that "the time has come for policy to adjust": The economy is continuing to inch toward the Fed's 2% inflation target, and it would soon be appropriate to ease off of the restrictive monetary policy.The consumer price index, which measures inflation, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-august-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-rate-cuts-2024-9">rose 2.5%</a> year over year in August, coming in below July's 2.9% reading. The unemployment rate also unexpectedly ticked down in August, giving the Fed the data it needs to cut rates.According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">CME FedWatch</a>, which estimates interest rate changes based on market predictions, a rate cut was all but certain; the question was how big of a cut the Fed would implement. Markets were expecting a 50-basis-point cut, per the predictions, and Wednesday's announcement fell in line with expectations.Additionally, some economists and Democratic lawmakers have been calling for a rate cut of at least 50 basis points for months. Skanda Amarnath, executive director of advocacy group Employ America and a former Fed economist, told reporters at a Monday briefing that "it's better to act early.""It's better to move faster before the data is screaming that we're in a recession because, by that time, 50 basis points may be just not enough," he said.Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren, John Hickenlooper, and Sheldon Whitehouse wanted Powell to go even further, urging him in a Monday <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/warren_hickenlooper_whitehouse_letter_to_fed_re_september_rate_cut.pdf">letter</a> to cut interest rates by 75 basis points."If the Fed is too cautious in cutting rates, it would needlessly risk our economy heading towards a recession," they wrote.While Powell has faced criticism from some experts and lawmakers for waiting too long to cut rates, he has said multiple times that it was better for the Fed to hold off until it received all the data it needed rather than cutting rates too early and having to hike again at a later date.It's unclear how aggressively the Fed will continue to cut in the coming months, but it'll take time for Americans to feel the relief's impact. There will likely be lags in the housing and car industries, as a single rate cut will not have a material impact in the short term. The same goes with credit cards — interest rates on credit cards have been at historic highs, and it'll take a while for those with balances to see relief.Specifically, credit-card interest rates have almost doubled over the past decade to 22.8%, with delinquencies on the rise, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/todays-mortgage-rates-tuesday-17-2024-9">average rates</a> for 30-year fixed mortgages now stand at 5.50%.But overall, it's a positive signal for the direction of the US economy."They're going to cut rates this week," Bharat Ramamurti, senior advisor for economic strategy at the American Economic Liberties Project, told reporters during a Monday briefing. "And that is a sign from the body that is most focused on this, that our war on inflation is over."

The Fed gives the US its first jumbo interest-rate cut in 4 years

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Happy Friday! Elections can be stressful, so take some tips from new research on how to lower your blood pressure. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lower-your-blood-pressure-5-minutes-exercise-a-day-study-2024-11">Daily short, intense workouts</a> can be your best bet to fight disease and improve longevity.In today's big story, the Fed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-quarter-point-powell-inflation-election-2024-11">cutting interest rates yesterday was never really in doubt</a>. What comes next isn't as clear.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: Goldman Sachs announced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-partners-revealed-see-full-list-names-diversity-women-2024-11">its newest class of partners</a>.</li><li>Tech: The stock market is already indicating <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-winners-losers-trump-election-win-according-to-market-2024-11">winners and losers among Big Tech</a>.</li><li>Business: Hiring experts are predicting <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-win-affect-job-hiring-trends-and-employer-confidence-2024-11">a "Trump bump" for the jobs market</a>.</li></ul>But first, more relief … for now.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">The Fed's new conundrum</h2><div type="image" title="Jerome Powell on top of stock market chart going down." height="900" width="1800" msid="115090330" hostid="261" sizebytes="70080"></div>Americans got a bit more relief from the Fed, but questions are swirling about what the president-elect means for future plans.The Federal Reserve <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-quarter-point-powell-inflation-election-2024-11">cut interest rates by 25 basis points Thursday</a>, its second-straight reduction since September in a move that was largely expected. Additional rate cuts aren't as clear, though, as Donald Trump's proposed widespread tariffs <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-inflation-interest-rates-fed-rate-cuts-fomc-meeting-outlook-2024-11">could slow down the Fed's plans</a>.Economists have said Trump's 10-20% blanket tariff on most imported goods will cause inflation to flare up as producers and importers pass the cost of the tax onto consumers. Prior to the election, Nobel economist Paul Krugman said Trump's tariff plans would result in an "inflationary shock that is bigger than almost anything else you could do through federal policy."It's not just speculation from economists. The market is indicating inflation could lead the Fed to keep borrowing rates high. Treasury yields soared the day after the election, a sign Wall Street sees interest rates staying elevated.Interest-rate traders have also recalibrated their expectations. The chances of a 25-point December rate cut went from 83% at the start of the month down to as much as 63% yesterday following the Fed's announcement, according to the CME FedWatch tool. (It currently stands around 75%.)<div type="image" title="Photo of Donald Trump" height="1279" width="1920" msid="115090327" hostid="261" sizebytes="95086"></div>Still, speculating on what could come from a president-elect is a tricky game.Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at <a target="_blank" href="http://Bankrate.com">Bankrate.com</a>, told Insider Today that Fed Chair Jerome Powell didn't indicate a pause in cuts was coming in December during Thursday's press conference. Powell also emphasized the election won't impact the central bank's near-term actions, McBride added."Until there are policy specifics being passed into law, there is nothing for the Fed to put in their economic models and they won't speculate or assume anything in the interim," McBride wrote via email.There's also the question of whether Trump's tariff would be as inflationary as some fear. During his first term, the former president issued tariffs against China that didn't cause prices to spike.Trump's proposals this time around are much more aggressive, but it's not clear what will actually be put in place."Nobody knows what will be implemented and what is just posturing for negotiation," McBride added.Dominique Lapointe, director of macro strategy for Manulife Investment Management, told Insider Today via email the firm's base case is still a 25-point cut in December. The Fed would change course in reaction to tariffs only if they are official and making an impact, meaning the central bank's policy likely wouldn't change until mid-2025, Lapointe added.One thing that is clear: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/powell-wont-resign-federal-reserve-step-down-trump-election-2024-11">Powell's not leaving</a>.When a reporter asked the Fed leader if he would resign if Trump, who has been critical of him, asked him to step down, his response was simple: "No."<h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>Democrats wished the election was about jobs. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-won-election-high-prices-cost-of-living-unemployment-2024-11">Trump's win showed it was about prices</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-local-government-debt-rescue-trump-us-presidential-election-2024-11">China announced a $1.4 trillion stimulus package</a> to boost its economy on the heels of Trump's election.</li><li>Airbnb reported its earnings. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-earnings-shares-most-interesting-things-cohost-2024-11">Here are four highlights</a>.</li><li>Trump said he will divide Russia from China. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-plan-divide-china-russia-axis-is-likely-fail-2024-11">It's a tough bromance to break</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-prediction-correct-election-trump-harris-2024-11">Peter Thiel's 'contrarian'</a> election prediction came true.</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Photo of MAGA hat on exchange desk" height="655" width="1000" msid="115090331" hostid="261" sizebytes="44410"></div><ol><li>Morningstar thinks you should stay the course with your investment plan. Trump's win sent the stock market surging, but that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-trade-election-investing-stock-market-strategy-sp500-valuations-morningstar-2024-11">doesn't mean you should rethink your investing strategy</a>, Morningstar Senior US Market Strategist Dave Sekera said. His call for restraint is partly due to how high stock valuations currently are, although he does see opportunity among small-caps.</li><li>The new Goldman execs who just got the call of a lifetime. Goldman Sachs tapped<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-partners-revealed-see-full-list-names-diversity-women-2024-11"> 95 people to join its exclusive partnership</a> on Thursday, a record high under CEO David Solomon. Twenty-six of the new partners are women, a group closely watched after a series of high-profile female partner exits.</li><li>Trump's election might be Citi's saving grace. The bank has spent more than $7.4 billion addressing regulators' concerns, specifically about its data and risk problems. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-election-citi-jane-fraser-regulators-frc-occ-2024-11">Donald Trump could ease that pain</a>. The president-elect has signaled he'd cut down on Wall Street oversight, previously pledging he'd eliminate 10 rules for each new one.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="Musk and Trump." height="2499" width="3329" msid="115090332" hostid="261" sizebytes="268836"></div><ol><li>How Elon Musk swung Pennsylvania for Trump. The tech tycoon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-pennsylvania-america-pac-donald-trump-harris-2024-11">spent millions on the Keystone State</a> to deliver it to Trump, launching a last-minute canvassing effort and untested ground-game techniques. Musk's strategy could usher in a "new era" in campaign spending, one political scientist told BI.</li><li>Big Tech's biggest winners and losers after Trump's victory. Which companies stand to gain the most under a new Trump presidency? BI looked at the two-day stock performance of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-winners-losers-trump-election-win-according-to-market-2024-11">many of the largest tech companies to find out</a>.</li><li>Trump's plan to "never ban" TikTok will be tough to fulfill, legal experts say. The former president campaigned on the promise that TikTok would be here to stay. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-block-tiktok-ban-legal-experts-2024-11">But legal experts told BI he's only got two options to try and save it</a> — and neither of them are straightforward.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="Image of Walmart sign outside store" height="1280" width="1920" msid="115090336" hostid="261" sizebytes="228442"></div><ol><li>Retail giants prepare for Trump 2.0. Tariffs are the biggest concern for superstores like Walmart, Target, and Costco. If the president-elect follows through on his campaign promises, consumers could foot the bill of high tariffs through higher prices. On the other hand, tax cuts could spur spending — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-win-retail-impact-walmart-costco-target-tariffs-tax-cuts-2024-11">but they'd take many months to see results</a>.</li><li>The job market under Trump. Hiring experts expect a "Trump bump" as employers get comfortable posting openings now that the election's outcome is clear. They forecast a postelection hiring rush and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-win-affect-job-hiring-trends-and-employer-confidence-2024-11">increased demand in some sectors</a>, particularly tech.</li><li>David Zaslav is optimistic about Trump's effect on Big Media. The Warner Bros. Discovery CEO wanted a president who was more open to M&amp;A, since his company has been eyeing consolidation for a while. A second <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wbd-trump-zaslav-consolidation-earnings-2024-11">Trump administration might provide that opportunity</a>, Zaslav said on WBD's earnings call, but it's too early to be certain.</li></ol><h2 id="1ad7b482-3f4b-44b4-81b6-a864aa386478">In other news</h2><ul><li>The Polymarket 'whale' actually made $85 million, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/polymarket-whale-banked-85-million-profit-trump-president-election-win-2024-11">far more than originally thought</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harris-lost-biden-unpopularity-trump-election-2024-11">Harris couldn't escape</a> Biden's unpopularity.</li><li>Investors accuse the ex-CEO of the company that helped take Trump Media public of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-ceo-patrick-orlando-lawsuit-trump-media-investors-shares-2024-11">stiffing them out of millions of shares</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Paramount, Sony, and other companies report earnings.</li><li>Grammy Award nominations are announced.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London.

Fed cuts rates again, but Trump's tariff plan sparks inflation fears and market uncertainty

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Stock indexes retreated as investors digested Thursday commentary from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.</li><li>The odds of a 25-basis-point rate cut in December fell sharply after Powell's address.</li></ul>US equities slumped Friday morning as Wall Street pulled back rate-cut expectations for December.The scaling-back started on Thursday afternoon after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that central bank will take its time in easing policy, citing ongoing US economic strength."The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates," he said.The odds of a 25-basis-point rate cut fell to less than 60% shortly after Powell's comments, down from 80%, as calculated by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html?redirect=/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html">CME FedWatch Tool</a>. The probability remained lower, around 58%, on Friday morning.Also impacting rate-cut expectations is a streak of encouraging economic data. New figures on Friday showed US retail sales advanced in October, boosted by a jump in autos purchases.While the three major indexes headed for their first losing week since the election, bond yields climbed. The 2-year yield — most sensitive to near-term rate forecasts — has risen 7 basis points in the last two days.Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Friday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,905.37, down 0.7%</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 43,547.05, down 0.5% (213 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 18,859.96, down 1.3%</li></ul>Here's what else is going on:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-bubble-crash-prediction-bull-market-drivers-top-2024-11?_gl=1*1wkitcm*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTY3NDUwNC44NDAuMS4xNzMxNjc4ODMzLjU1LjAuMA..">3 stock market rally drivers are hitting extremes and pointing to low returns</a>, David Rosenberg said.</li><li>David Einhorn is <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/david-einhorn-greenlight-capital-cnh-stock-value-buy-agriculture-inflation-2024-11?_gl=1*jv6vk7*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTY3NDUwNC44NDAuMS4xNzMxNjc4OTczLjE1LjAuMA..">loading up on a CNH Industrial</a>, a cheap agricultural stock 'no one cares about.'</li><li>Investors underestimate how deep <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-2025-trump-tariff-inflation-growth-2024-11?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">rate cuts will be in 2025</a>, Goldman Sachs says.</li><li>China's weak economy and record US production will lead to a <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/oil-outlook-supply-crude-prices-us-production-china-opec-2024-11?_gl=1*1he4945*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTYxNjYwOS40MTAuMS4xNzMxNjE3NjcwLjYwLjAuMA..&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">surplus</a> of one million barrels of oil a day next year, IEA says.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil markets were down. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wti&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">West Texas Intermediate crude</a> slid 0.96% to $68.04 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, fell 0.94% to $71.88 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> stayed essentially flat at $2,572 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury climbed 4 basis points to 4.459%.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Bitcoin</a> jumped 2.28% to $90,053.</li></ul>

Stock market today: Indexes tumble after Fed comments dent December rate-cut odds

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indexes rose Thursday to continue a post-election rally after the Fed cut interest rates.</li><li>The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points, a smaller move compared to its September meeting. </li></ul>Indexes ended higher on Thursday, extending a post-election rally after the Federal Reserve delivered a rate cut at the end of its latest policy meeting. The Nasdaq jumped 1.5% to a new record high, while the S&amp;P 500 climbed 0.8% to a new record. The Dow Jones Industrial Index was nearly flat after surging by more than 1,500 points on Wednesday. Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Thursday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,973.10, up 0.74% </li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 43,729.34</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 19,269.46, up 1.5%</li></ul>Major indexes gained as the Fed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-quarter-point-powell-inflation-election-2024-11">cut rates by 25 basis points</a>, which was widely expected after an initial jumbo 50 basis point cut in September.Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed will continue to be data dependent, but that it is prepared to adjust its easing pace as necessary.Though some noted after the meeting that the Fed's tone may have sounded less confident about the path of inflation, noting "progress" has been made rather than the previous wording of "further progress," analysts were unconcerned."The Committee had used this language as a threshold to start cutting, so we interpret its removal as a reflection of the fact that the cutting cycle is already underway rather than as an indication of reduced confidence in the inflation outlook," analysts from Goldman Sachs said in a Thursday note.CPI data has been slightly sticky above the Fed's 2% target, with the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-september-cpi-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-interest-rates-2024-10">latest report</a> showing inflation cooled in September but less than economists had expected.The labor market, on the other hand, appears to be a smaller source of stress for the Fed, but Powell said it's "prepared to adjust the pace and destination" of easing as the jobs data evolves."There seems to be less anxiety about the risk of rising unemployment and slowing job growth," Fitch Ratings chief economist Brian Coulton said in a Thursday note.The latest employment data, released Thursday, shows weekly jobless claims increased slightly to 221,000, a gain of 3,000 from the week before and in line with expectations.Investors seem hopeful Trump's light regulatory stance and proposals for corporate tax cuts will make for a more friendly business environment. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-bull-rally-trump-deregulation-tax-cuts-evercore-2024-11">Evercore ISI this week predicted</a> the S&amp;P 500 to jump 11% by next summer as the rally accelerates in Trump's second term. Powell said the election outcome will have "no effect" on the Fed's policy in the near future and reiterated that the Fed does not speculate on any administration's potential impact on the economy.Here's what else is going on:<ul><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/polymarket-whale-banked-85-million-profit-trump-president-election-win-2024-11?miRedirects=1">The Polymarket "whale" made a lot more</a> than previously thought betting on Trump to win. </li><li>Stocks are entering "Crazy Town" as valuations near generational highs. </li><li>Stocks tied to Russia rally as Trump's win <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/russia-stocks-trump-win-ukraine-war-putin-zelenskyy-2024-11?_gl=1*7o1w4e*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTAxMTE0MC4zNzguMS4xNzMxMDEzMTI1LjYwLjAuMA..">fuels hopes</a> for an end to the Ukraine war.</li><li>Trump's win created a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/wealthiest-people-in-world-net-worth-increase-trump-victory-stocks-2024-11?_gl=1*1kcs0b*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTAxMTE0MC4zNzguMS4xNzMxMDEzMTUyLjMzLjAuMA..">record $64 billion</a> of net worth for the world's 10 richest people.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures were up. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wti">West Texas Intermediate crude</a> rose 0.5% to $72.06 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, climbed 0.7% to $75.42 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> rose climbed 1.4% to $2,713.80 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury fell nine basis points to 4.335%. </li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> was up slightly to $76,505.</li></ul>

Stock market today: Stocks extend post-election rally as the Fed cuts interest rates

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This is an excerpt from the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Go big or go home.The Federal Reserve didn't hold back when it cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years.The central bank announced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cuts-interest-rates-how-much-september-fomc-powell-inflation-2024-9">a jumbo cut of 50 basis points</a>, ending its ongoing battle against post-pandemic inflation and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/interest-rates-today-fed-meeting-cut-stock-market-powell-economy-2024-9">giving investors exactly what they wanted</a>.While the cut was never in question, its size was widely debated heading into Wednesday's announcement. The speculation was that opting for the larger cut might indicate the Fed is worried about the economy. (The worse things are, the more relief is needed, the thinking goes.)Fed Chair Jerome Powell threw cold water on those concerns. In a press conference after the announcement, Powell said he believes the economy is moving in the right direction.But don't get used to jumbo cuts, as Powell said Wednesday's 50-point reduction doesn't guarantee the central bank will maintain that pace going forward.<div type="image" title="A hand holding money" height="1500" width="2000" msid="113495850" hostid="261" sizebytes="140514"></div>So what does this rate cut mean for … everything?First off, don't expect any immediate changes. It'll take a while before the effects of the cut <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-how-will-they-impact-me-lag-inflation-2024-9">reach the rest of us</a>.But that doesn't mean you can't plan ahead. Our colleagues at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rates-drop-what-to-expect-2024-9">Personal Finance Insider</a> have covered the eventual impacts the rate cut will have on various financial products.Let's start with mortgage rates, since that's an area people naturally think of when it comes to interest rates. Bad news, prospective homebuyers: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-fed-rate-cut-could-impact-mortgage-rates-homebuyers-2024-9">Don't expect mortgage rates to drop much</a> in response to the Fed's announcement, as the market has already priced in the reduction.And if you're locked into a high mortgage rate, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cut-lower-mortgage-rates-should-you-refinance-2024-9">maybe hold off on refinancing</a> until a few more cuts materialize.Another key consideration is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/keep-high-interest-savings-accounts-as-rates-slide-2024-9">where to park your cash</a>. The cut means the rates banks offer for their savings accounts will likely go down eventually.As a result, you might want to consider investing some of the cash you may have sitting on the sidelines in high-yield savings and money market accounts.But experts emphasized it's important not to panic regarding your investments. Instead, use the new rate as a chance to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cut-investing-strategy-financial-planners-2024-9">reevaluate your investment strategy</a>. That could include further diversifying your investments or even diving back into bonds.The rate reduction also won't be enough to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cut-impact-credit-card-loan-rates-debt-consolidation-2024-9">significantly lower high-interest credit card debt</a>. Instead, you'll still have to do it the hard way: Consolidating debt and prioritizing just paying it off.The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

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