The U.S. economy is showing signs of strain as unemployment climbed from 4.1% to 4.3% in July, increasing the number of jobless Americans to around 7.2 million.
This labor market decline coincides with a massive $6.4 trillion drop in global stock markets over a three-week period.
Wells Fargo analysts are sounding alarms, urging the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to shift to a ‘neutral’ policy stance to avoid worsening the economic downturn. In response, major banks are predicting significant interest rate cuts.
Bank of America anticipates a rate cut in September, while Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase foresee a 50 basis point reduction in both September and November. Citi expects a cumulative 100 basis point cut by November, aiming for a range of 3% to 3.25% by mid-2025.
These anticipated rate adjustments reflect growing concerns about the economic stability in the U.S. and globally, suggesting that investors should prepare for potential financial instability in the near future.
As trade tensions rise and economic signals grow harder to read, America’s largest banks are posting quarterly results that reflect both resilience and caution.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has raised alarms over a possible U.S. recession, warning that the downturn may have already begun.
China has fired back at the United States with a sharp tariff increase, raising duties on U.S. imports to 125% effective April 12, 2025.
Global markets were shaken after President Trump unexpectedly announced a temporary freeze on U.S. trade tariffs, slashing rates to 10% for the next 90 days.