On Wednesday, Wall Street stocks experienced a slight decline following the Federal Reserve’s announcement of a half-percentage-point interest rate cut. The central bank’s chair, Jerome Powell, assured a “careful” approach to lowering rates, acknowledging the progress made in combating inflation in the United States.
The Federal Reserve’s decision was supported by an 11-to-1 vote in favor of reducing the benchmark rate to a range between 4.75 percent and 5.00 percent.The larger-than-expected rate cut surprised some analysts who had anticipated a quarter-point decrease. Additionally, policymakers projected an extra half-point of cuts by the end of this year and a further percentage point of cuts in 2025.
Meanwhile, major US stock indices fluctuated between positive and negative territory following the Fed’s decision. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 103.08 points, or 0.25%, to 41,503.10, the S&P 500 lost 16.32 points, or 0.29%, to 5,618.26 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 54.76 points, or 0.31%, to 17,573.30. Briefing.com noted that the Fed’s decision would be met “with both elation and criticism,” as the larger rate cut could appease those who believe the Fed is lagging in preventing a hard landing. However, it may also face criticism from those who think the more aggressive rate cut was unwarranted given broader economic trends, with concerns that it could reignite inflation.
During a news conference, Powell described the US economy as being in “good shape,” highlighting lower inflation and robust growth. He emphasized the Fed’s desire to maintain a strong labor market. The decision to implement a larger rate cut was based on various economic data points, leading policymakers to conclude that monetary decisions had been “appropriately restrictive” and that a “more neutral” approach was now necessary. Powell signaled that investors should expect more interest rate cuts in the future but cautioned that the central bank would proceed carefully and evaluate the matter “meeting by meeting.”
In Europe, stock markets in Paris and London closed lower, while Frankfurt ended the day flat. The dollar initially experienced a significant drop against the euro and other currencies but later recovered. The Fed now anticipates only a half-percentage point of cuts remaining in 2024, which is lower than the three-quarter percentage point that traders had been expecting. Traders are now focusing on the upcoming announcement by the Bank of England on Thursday. The central bank is expected to maintain its current stance following a regular meeting, as official data released on Wednesday showed that British annual inflation remained at 2.2 percent in August.
(With inputs from agencies)

NEW YORK: Wall Street is holding near its records on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kicked off its efforts to prevent a recession with a bigger-than-usual cut to interest rates.
The S&P 500 was virtually flat in late trading and 0.6% below its all-time high set in July. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 31 points, or 0.1%, and close to its record set on Monday.The Nasdaq composite was 0.2% higher, as of 3:35 p.m. Eastern time.
The momentous move by the Fed helps financial markets in two big ways. It eases the brakes off the economy, which has been slowing under the weight of higher rates, and it gives a boost to prices for all kinds of investments. Besides stocks, gold and bond prices had already rallied in recent months on expectations that cuts to rates were coming.
Because the move was so well telegraphed, and markets had already climbed so much in anticipation of it, Wall Street’s reactions were relatively muted despite the Fed’s historic action. It marked the first cut to the federal funds rate in over four years, and it closed the door on a stretch where the Fed kept the rate at a two-decade high to slow the economy enough to stifle the worst inflation in generations.
Now that inflation has eased significantly from its peak two summers ago and appears to be heading toward 2%, the Fed says it it can turn more of its attention toward protecting the slowing job market and overall economy.
“The time to support the labor market is when it’s strong and not when you begin to see the layoffs,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said. “That’s the situation we’re in.”
The only question is how much the Fed will ultimately cut rates by to do so, which can prove to be a tricky balance. Lowering rates would help the economy by making it easier for US businesses and households to borrow. But it could also offer more fuel for inflation.
The Fed released forecasts Wednesday that said its median official expects to cut the federal funds rate by another half of a percentage point through the end of the year. That could mean a traditional-sized cut of a quarter of a percentage point at each of its two remaining meetings scheduled for 2024.
After that, the median Fed official is projecting another full percentage point of cuts during 2025.
Some critics say the Federal Reserve may be moving too late to protect the economy after having kept rates too high for too long.
“When the Fed is behind the curve, it sometimes takes a big move to catch up to where they should have been all along,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.
“We don’t think we’re behind,” Powell said in a press conference following the Fed’s announcement. “We think this is timely. But I think you can take this as a sign of our commitment not to get behind,” pointing to Wednesday’s hefty cut of half a percentage point. Powell called it a “good strong start to this.”
Other critics, meanwhile, are saying the Fed will need to be careful about cutting rates too much because of the possibility that inflation will remain stubbornly higher than it’s been in recent decades.
Powell repeated several times that the Fed does not feel “a rush to get this done” and will make its decisions on interest rates at each successive meeting, depending on what incoming data say.
“We’ll move as fast or as slow as we think is appropriate in real time,” he said. For now, he said, “the US economy is in a good place, and our decision today is designed to keep it there.”
Treasury yields squiggled down and up immediately after the Fed announced its cut and published its projections.
The 10-year Treasury yield eventually rose to 3.70% from 3.65% late Tuesday. The two-year yield, which more closely follows expectations for Fed action, edged up to 3.62% from 3.60% late Tuesday.
On Wall Street, stocks of oil-and-gas producers and other companies whose profits are most closely tied to the strength of the economy helped lead the way. Utilities and other dividend-paying stocks that tend to hold up better during economic downturns, meanwhile, lagged behind the market.
That could be a signal that Wall Street sees lower odds of painful recession following the Fed’s cut, according to Sameer Samana, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.
Intuitive Machines soared 40% after Nasa awarded it with a contract worth up to $4.82 billion for communication and navigation services the space agency will use to establish a long-term presence on the moon.
Trading in Tupperware Brands remained halted after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Its stock has been sinking, down to 51 cents, since a mini-revival early in the pandemic sent its stock above $30.
McGrath RentCorp., a company that rents and sells mobile office trailers, portable classrooms and other structures, fell 3.9% after it agreed to terminate its proposed buyout by WillScot following tough scrutiny of the deal from US regulators.
In stock markets abroad, indexes were modestly lower in Europe after finishing higher in much of Asia.
The Bank of Japan and the Bank of England are also holding monetary policy meetings later this week. Neither central bank is expected to move on rates, though the language of what the officials say could be an indicator of later moves and still influence markets.

NEW DELHI: SpiceJet is now looking at a lifeline with its crucial fundraising exercise learnt to be finding favour with investors. The airline’s Rs 3,000-crore qualified institutional placement (QIP) has been oversubscribed, say sources. The likely investors include institutional funds like Tata Mutual Fund, Bandhan Bank, Discovery Fund, Plutus, Jupiter Fund Management and Think Investments.Family offices of ace investor Madhu Kela, Akash Bhanshali, Sanjay Dangi and Rohit Kothari are also learnt to have subscribed to the QIP.
“This demonstrates strong investor confidence in the airline and in its growth potential. The QIP received an overwhelming response from investors and was significantly oversubscribed on its first day. The total offers received exceed Rs 3,000 crore. This support shows the belief in the airline’s ability to capitalise on India’s growing aviation market and achieve sustained growth,” say sources.
The airline could soon get funds and will then unground its fleet apart from paying employees’ PF and TDS dues, sources say.