Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has dispelled any remaining uncertainty by signaling that the central bank is preparing to shift its monetary policy, effectively paving the way for imminent interest rate cuts.
His remarks triggered a rally in rate-sensitive assets and pushed the dollar towards the lowest close since July 2023.
“The time has come for policy to adjust. The direction of travel is clear,” Powell announced at the Jackson Hole Symposium on Friday in Wyoming.
Powell expressed increased confidence in inflation returning to the 2% target and highlighted a heightened focus on the labor market, noting that conditions are cooling.
The market found significant support in Powell’s indication the Federal Reserve has “ample room” to respond to any emerging risks.
Small-cap stocks emerged as clear winners following Powell’s speech on Friday, with the Russell 2000 index surging by 3% by midday trading in New York. Traders flocked to these companies, anticipating significant relief from the prospect of lower borrowing costs.
Regional banks, as tracked by the SPDR S&P Regional Banking (NYSE:KRE), were the brightest market spot, with the industry gauge rallying over ...
