The Federal Reserve opted to keep interest rates steady, as anticipated by most.
With this decision in place, all eyes will now be on Jerome Powell’s upcoming address at 21:30 Türkiye time, where investors and analysts hope to gain insight into the Fed’s outlook.
This decision comes at a time of heightened economic uncertainty. Shifts in trade policy under the Trump administration, widespread job cuts within the federal workforce, and broader financial pressures have raised concerns about slowing economic momentum.
Although the post-election period initially sparked optimism, key indicators now suggest consumer spending and job creation are losing steam. Efforts to downsize government operations, spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have intensified these challenges, particularly in regions dependent on federal employment.
The financial markets have also reacted sharply. The S&P 500 recently slipped into correction territory, registering a 10% drop from its recent high—the steepest decline in three years. Investors remain wary of the long-term consequences of current policies, complicating the Fed’s path forward.
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers weighed in on the situation, describing it as a unique challenge for central bankers. He noted that rising import costs and declining employment are creating what he called a “stagflationary shock,” a sentiment echoed by several financial experts assessing the economic landscape.
The U.S. economy may be closer to a downturn than many realize, according to Jay Bryson, chief economist at Wells Fargo.
Morgan Stanley has issued a cautionary outlook on the U.S. dollar, predicting a major decline over the coming year as Federal Reserve rate cuts take hold.
Legendary investor Ray Dalio has issued a stark warning about the trajectory of U.S. government finances, suggesting the country is drifting toward a series of severe economic shocks unless its debt spiral is urgently addressed.
Steve Eisman, the famed investor known for forecasting the 2008 housing collapse, is sounding the alarm—not on overvalued tech stocks or interest rates, but on the escalating risk of global trade disputes.