Showing posts with label Jerome Powell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerome Powell. Show all posts

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Stocks Plunge after Fed Chair Warns of ‘Pain’ from Inflation Fight

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The S&P 500 fell 3.4 percent, its worst daily showing since mid-June, after the Federal Reserve chair spoke about the path ahead for monetary policy.

Wall Street recoiled on Friday, after the head of the Federal Reserve delivered a stern warning that the central bank’s campaign to lower inflation by raising interest rates is “unconditional” even if it leads to pain for households, businesses and in turn stock prices.

The S&P 500 fell 3.4 percent, its worst daily showing since mid-June, taking its losses for the week to 4 percent. The slump was broad, with every sector of the index lower.

Bond investors also quickly adjusted for more rate increases from the Fed, with the two-year Treasury yield, which is sensitive to rising interest rates, moving close to its highest level of the year at 3.44 percent, before easing back to 3.38 percent.

“While higher interest rates, slower growth and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring some pain to households and businesses,” Jerome Powell, the Fed chair, said during a speech at the Kansas City Fed’s annual conference in Wyoming. “These are the unfortunate costs of reducing inflation. But a failure to restore price stability would mean far greater pain.” » | Joe Rennison | Friday, August 26, 2022

Daily Business Briefing.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

US Stocks Worst Day since 2020 amid Recession Worries

THE GUARDIAN: Recession fears are swirling through the markets again, as rising inflation and snarled supply chains hit economies, driving up the cost of living and hitting some company profits.

Last night, US stocks posted the biggest daily drop in almost two years, on concerns that economic growth will falter as central bankers look to raise interest rates to stem the surge in inflation.

Fed chair Jerome Powell’s determination to keep lifting borrowing costs until inflation falls meaningfully has rattled Wall Street, and is likely to push European markets lower today too.

The S&P500 fell more than 4% lower yesterday, Nasdaq slumped more than 5% and the Dow slid more than 3.5%. » | Graeme Wearden | Thursday, May 19, 2022