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For the first time since 202o, the US <keyword id="19904332" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Federal-Reserve" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Federal Reserve" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Federal Reserve">Federal Reserve</keyword> cut down the benchmark <keyword id="19950650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="keywords">interest rates</keyword> by 50 basis points , bringing the target rate range to 4.75%-5%, from its previous scope of 5.25% to 5.5%. The decision, which was taken 11:1, was not unanimous, a striking departure from all other unanimous interest rate decisions taken by Fed over the last 2 years. Per chairman <keyword id="20058769" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jerome-powell" source="keywords">Jerome Powell</keyword>, the decision was taken in light of easing inflationary pressures in the US economy, which came down to 2.53% this month, as opposed to 2.89% a month prior, and 3.67% last year. "In light of the progress on inflation and the balance of risks, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/2 percentage point to 4-3/4 to 5 percent. In considering additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. The Committee is strongly committed to supporting maximum employment and returning inflation to its 2 percent objective", the FOMC committee highlighted in its statement. Signaling more aggressive rate cuts going ahead, Fed projections implied an additional 50 bps rate cut from current levels within 2024, with rate trims going as high as 100 bps in 2025, and another 50 bps in 2026. Notably, last month, Powell had strongly hinted towards a rate cut, saying it was "time for policy to be adjusted". Over the last few years, high interest rates had made home equity loans and credit card interest rates super expensive. In March 2022, which was the first time Fed hiked interest, rates on home equity loans stood at 5.96%%. This has jumped to 8.49% in September 2o24. At 20.78%, credit card interest rates have also been sky-high, swelling by over 400 basis points since March 2022. Indian markets stay flat On Wednesday, Indian equity markets maintained a cautious outlook, with <keyword id="19950208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSE-Sensex" source="keywords">BSE Sensex</keyword> and Nifty50 dipping by 0.16% each to close the day in red. During the day, both Sensex and Nifty scaled record highs of 83,326.38 points, and 25.377.55 points respectively. Most market experts anticipated a 25-bps rate cut, but with Fed delivering a mammoth-size cut, the focus is now set to shift from inflation to unemployment, with the rate cut offering much-needed, immediate relief to US economy, which has, for long, been battling high borrowing costs. Per Fed officials, unemployment is set to rise to 4.4% this year, up from its present rate of 4.2%, as recorded in August. Per Bloomberg reports, shortly after the announcement, gold prices also jumped to record highs. The prices of yellow metal were already hovering near all-time highs ahead of the announcement. A rate cut pushes to weaken the greenback, which is what gold is priced in internationally. This makes bullion cheaper, pushing up its demand globally.

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Fed trims interest rates by 50 basis points, gold prices touch record-high

Ira Alok Puranik

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