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Days after Trump won his way to the White House, becoming the 47th President of the United States, the US Federal Reserve slashed the interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing them within the range of 4.5-4.75%. This is the second time this year that the Fed has lowered the interest rates, after cutting them down by 50 basis points in September 2024. u Fed chair Jerome Powell noted that monetary policy remains tight as inflation remains elevated at 2.4% as of September 2024, slightly above the 2% mark set by the commission. However, the Fed remained optimistic about the current state of the economy. "The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at 2% over the longer run. The Committee judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance. The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate," the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) noted in its press release. The rate cut was along widely anticipated lines, although experts were wary of the Fed's way ahead, given that Donald Trump has been elected as the US President. In the past, he has, on multiple occasions, expressed his desire to yield greater influence on the Fed, apart from publicly criticizing Powell. However, Powell continued to stand his ground, noting that Trump cannot legally sack him. He believed in keeping the Fed independent, at least until his tenure as governor ends in 2028. He highlighted that even if he is explicitly asked by Trump to quit, he won't do so. <h2>Trump's regime to inch up inflation?</h2> Trump's electoral promises, if translated into policies, could spell disaster for the Fed's effort to curtail inflation. Reportedly, Trump has promised to levy aggressive tariffs against US trading partners, particularly China, and even extend his 2017 tax cuts. This could mean higher levels of the federal deficit, which would push up prices, wages, and hence, inflation, even as the Fed tries to consistently bring it under control. Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities, notes that it wasn't a surprise when the US Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.75%. The Fed had given enough clues, and the market too had anticipated these rate cuts. "However, what was surprising was how the <keyword id="23863852" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-10-year-bond-yields" source="keywords">US 10-year bond yields</keyword> moved over the last one and a half months, which have been rising relentlessly from 3.6% to almost 4.5% despite the 50 bps cut in the last Fed meeting. It seems that the market is anticipating slower rate cuts going ahead, and maybe there are even chances of inflation rising. The bond yields have cooled off and slipped below the 4.335% mark. This should be bullish for emerging markets like India," he added.

US Fed cuts interest rates by 25 bps, Powell notes Trump's victory to have no impact on policy decisions

Global markets are looking ahead to the US Fed's meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2024, expecting the Jerome Powell-chaired FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) to slash interest rates further by 0.25%. In September this year, the Fed surprised the markets by cutting interest rates by a massive 0.5%, for the first time in 4 years. As per the <keyword id="23807624" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CME-Fed-Watch-Tool" source="keywords">CME Fed Watch Tool</keyword>, there is now a 99.5% chance that the Fed will reduce the interest rates by around 25 basis points, bringing it within the range of 4.5% to 4.75%. Only 0.5% believe that the Fed might leave the rates unchanged, within their present range of 4.75% to 5%. As for the Fed's December meeting, scheduled for December 18, per the CME Fed Watch tool, 79.5% believe that interest rates would be in the range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Another 20.4% believe that yields will remain in the range of 4.5% and 4.75%. Only 0.1% see the interest rates staying within their current range of 4.75% to 5% <h2>No major changes anticipated</h2>However, it is unlikely that this quarter-point rate cut would bring about any significant financial changes in the US economy. The Fed is again expected to bring down the interest rates by another 25 basis points in their December meeting. This would imply a total rate cut of about 50 basis points by the end of this year. So, why is the Fed not bringing down interest rates by 50 basis points in one fell swoop this time around? Why wait till December to bring down the rates by another 25 basis points? Experts believe that it could stoke inflation, which has seen a sharp decline in the recent past. A steep slash of borrowing rates could accelerate borrowing activity and inject significant cash into the economy at once, pushing up inflation. Per the Fed's recent projections, a total of 4 rate cuts are anticipated in 2025. On a YoY basis, inflation in the US dipped to 2.4%, close to the Fed's target of 2%. With inflationary pressures reined in, the economy growing at the rate of 2.8% during the third quarter of FY24, and the unemployment rate down to 4.1%, the markets see much merit in bringing interest rates down. This is especially important to boost spending, particularly in sectors such as housing and automobiles, where even a slight tinkering in interest rates can drastically impact the amount and volume of loans taken to own them. Data suggests that during Trump's presidency tenure, i.e., between 2017 and 2021, inflation averaged at a rate of 1.9% a year. During the Biden administration, where Kamala Harris served as VP, the inflation is on track to average around 5% a year. Shrisha Acharya, Vice President, Anand Rathi Global Finance, also notes that the results of the impending US elections, which are likely to be declared tomorrow, will impact the yields and stock markets. "The Trump card, coupled with potential Republican control, could mean higher bond yields due to anticipated increases in deficit spending, inflation risks, and potential tax cuts. This could very well jiggle the confidence in U.S. Treasury bonds and thus start a chain effect that will possibly impact global market stability and lead to short-term volatility. On the other hand, Harris’ rise has been met with a stock market rally glued on expectations of economic stability and controlled inflation, with more predictable fiscal policy likely to help in a soft landing," he explains.

What can you expect from the US Fed meeting later this week? Here's all you need to know

<div type="image" title="In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit" msid="114284206" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> On September 18, 2024, the <keyword id="19951097" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="us-fed" source="keywords">US Fed</keyword> delivered a jumbo-sized surprise to the global economy. Not only did they trim their interest rates by a massive 50 basis points to bring their yields down to 5%, but also hinted at further rate cuts in the upcoming months. This move from the fed and several other central banks globally had pushed expectations high for a similar rate slash closer home, from the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> this month. But governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, in a “picture abhi baaki hai” moment, decided to hold the repo rates here steady, leaving them unchanged at 6.5% for the record 10th straight time. Although, he did tinker with the policy stand, changing it from “rate cuts are absolutely off the table” to a more accommodating “we’re okay with bringing down the rates, if needed”. This, rather neutral, stance from India’s financial custodian sparked hopes for a rate cut in December this year. However, the stubborn <keyword id="22195" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="Orion">inflation</keyword> levels in September have again dented such hopes. As consumers, you may be wondering what all the hullabaloo this is about, since it hardly makes a difference to your regular financial routine. Well, the majority of both economic growth and inflation is closely connected to this policy stance from the central bank and it does have a rather indirect effect on both our earnings and spending. But more directly, it would have clear implications for those looking to own a house. Even the slightest modification of interest rates, or the lack of it, influences the <keyword id="19916018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emi" source="keywords">EMI</keyword> you pay significantly. So, all aspiring homebuyers, is this the right time to take out a loan and buy a house? Can you expect a rate cut anytime soon, and what will that mean for your home-owning dreams? We lay it out. <h2>What’s the connection?</h2>You see, buying a house is no small feat, at least financially. The task becomes even more herculean if you are scouting for your own roof in cities like Delhi, Noida, Bangalore or Mumbai where, as Circuit from Munnabhai says, “room shuru hote hi khatam ho jata hai”. Naturally, you’ll have to take a <keyword id="6354730" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan" source="Orion">home loan</keyword> from the bank. Don’t be mistaken, the bank won't give you a loan that covers 100% of the value of the property you want to own. Rather, your loan amount will be equivalent to a certain percentage of the property’s total value. RBI’s guidelines on this are pretty clear: <ul><li>If your loan amount is up to Rs 30 lakh, you can get a loan worth 90% of the property’s value.</li></ul><ul><li>If the loan amount is between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 75 lakh, you are eligible for a loan worth 80% of the property’s value. </li><li>If you are taking a loan of more than Rs 75 lakh, your loan amount will be equivalent to 70% of the property’s value. </li></ul>Now assuming that you have the money, it's all about paying back the principal amount, but not without a little (read hefty) interest added on top. See, when you’re taking a home loan, you are actually signing up for a long-term, even multi-decadal financial commitment, which will unfailingly present itself to your bank accounts and finances every single month, in the form of EMIs, or equated monthly instalments). When you take a home loan, you can choose to pay the interest in two ways (talk about choices!). One is that you decide to keep a fixed rate of interest throughout the tenure of your home loan. So, if you opt for a 25-year fixed-rate home loan at the rate of 8.8% p.a., you’ll have to pay interest at this rate for the next 25 years, till your entire loan is paid off. Yes, you can go backsies and switch to a floating-rate home loan by paying a fee. Floating, as the name suggests, means that your interest rate is not set in stone. But starting October 2019, when it comes to a floating interest rate home loan, your payable interest and EMIs are directly impacted by any changes in <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword>, which were left unchanged by RBI this time around. Why are these two so chummy, you might ask. Well, <keyword id="173069" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan-interest" source="Orion">home loan interest</keyword> rates are a sum of two things: <ol><li>Repo Rate (the rate at which RBI lends money to banks)</li><li>Operational cost + margins</li></ol>Any plus or minus in this equation would send your home loan interests tanking, or skyrocketing. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat explains that any change in the repo rates impacts the cost of funds and thereby the home loan interest rates. “When the interest rates are expected to reduce, the corresponding impact will be in the form of a reduced EMI. Home loan borrowers should always try to borrow at a floating rate when interest rates are expected to reduce and at a fixed rate when the interest rates are expected to increase. This minimizes the outflow in the form of EMIs that the home loan borrowers will experience”, he continues. So, no change in repo rates means no change in your home loan interest payout and no financial relief whatsoever. A rate cut, which most experts are anticipating will start this December, would mean your EMI payments come down, and your wallet might save a little more. But there’s also a chance of an UNO reverse happening. In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Consider this. You took a floating interest rate home loan worth Rs 50 lakh in January 2022 at 8% p.a., for a period of 20 years. This brings your total monthly EMI to Rs Rs 41,822. But, as luck would (or won't) have it, RBI raised the interest rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023, bringing it to its current status of 6.5%. Some back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that now, your home loan interest payout will also rise by a hefty 2.5%, taking the total to 10.5%. In other words, you’ll have to dish out Rs 49,919 per month as EMI. Now, won't you heave a sigh of relief if the RBI were to bring down the interest rate by say, even 50 basis points, or 0.5%? Agreed, your EMI will come down just marginally, to Rs 48,251. But look at this over a 20-year period, and you’ll see how big the difference is. <h2>Are rates set to change anytime soon?</h2>Generally, RBI hikes the repo rates if it sees inflation spiralling out of control. Then, in a bid to reduce consumer spending, it raises interest rates to make borrowing expensive. But when the apex bank sees sluggish consumption in the economy, inflation in control and wants to boost spending, it slashes down on interest rates, making it more lucrative for people to borrow. As of now, most experts are not anticipating any changes in the interest rates anytime soon. This means home loans are not getting cheaper anytime soon. The CPI data, which came out yesterday, saw inflation rise to 5.49% in September, compared to 3.65% last month. Food and beverage prices jumped to a four-month high of 8.36% in September, as opposed to a 5.3% rise in August. So a rate cut seems a no-go at the moment! Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities explains that the RBI had probably expected a hardening of inflation and that's why it chose to hold on to the rates in the monetary policy announcement last week. “Now, it seems that RBI will take a cautious stance going ahead and will not be in a hurry into rate cuts like its global peers”, he added. In all this, one thing is clear, in the grand movie of the Indian economy, the RBI has chosen stability over drama. And just like in every good Bollywood film, we're left wondering what twist the sequel will bring. Until then, it might be “The End" for rate cuts, but the show must go on for the Indian economy!

Simply Put: Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

Post the Fed's 50 basis point interest rate cut in September, the yellow metal has been scaling record highs every day. And per a recent <keyword id="22362020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UBS-report" source="keywords">UBS report</keyword>, its glitter is not going down anytime soon, with gold potentially touching $2,750 by the end of this year, and as much as $2,900 by the third quarter of 2025. Treasury yields, or interest rates have always had an inverse relationship with gold, which is why the metal's demand witnesses a notable uptick, every time the Fed slashes rates. This is because an interest rate cut reduces the yields i.e. returns that investors earn by way of having funds in government treasury bonds. As a result, investors tend to withdraw their money, weakening the dollar, thereby making the yellow metal a lucrative investment option. Going ahead, the markets are anticipating that the Fed will further bring down interest rates again, by around 75-100 basis points by the end of this year. As the CME FedWatch Tool indicates, there is now a 62.2% chance that the Fed will cut down interest rates by another 50 basis point during its meeting in November. This is also why <keyword id="19910265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-prices" source="keywords">gold prices</keyword> have been seeing a healthy growth in both domestic and international markets. According to a report by Angel One, the demand of safe-haven gold is only set to go up in the months to come. Apart from Fed's rate cuts and the upcoming <keyword id="20585365" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-elections" source="keywords">US elections</keyword>, there are tensions brewing globally on the geo-political front, with militant group Hezbollah's leader <keyword id="22445260" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sayyed-hassan-nasrallah" source="keywords">Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah</keyword> killed in a powerful airstrike in Beirut. This has dealt a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group, as it reels from an escalating campaign of Israeli attacks. "In such times, zero-yield bullion tends to be a preferred investment, more likely so in a low-interest rate environment and also, during geopolitical turmoil", the note added. <h2>Momentum set to continue </h2>The bullion recently touched an all-time high price of $2,670 on September 24th, 2024, and has rallied as much as 10% during the past 6 months. Closer home, we are approaching the festive season, as India gears up to celebrate festivals like Diwali (Dhanteras) and Akshaya Tritiya in October. These have long been associated with heightened gold purchases in the country. Particularly, Dhanteras sees a surge in gold buying as it is considered an auspicious time to acquire new assets, majorly gold. As the UBS report states, "the metal's current elevated starting point provides increased scope for gains in the coming months, particularly as ETF demand accelerates. We recommend gold as a strategic hedge within a diversified portfolio, suggesting a 5% allocation to the precious metal". Alekh Yadav, Head of Investment Products at Sanctum Wealth, also advises making some allocation to gold in your portfolio, since gold has a negative correlation with equities; whenever equity markets correct, gold typically performs better. Given that US markets are currently at elevated valuations, gold can serve as a hedge against potential global equity corrections, he explains. "In conclusion, we believe that some allocation to gold, even at current levels, makes sense as a hedge against global risks", he continues. As a thumb rule, you should always have anywhere between 5-10% allocation to gold via digital gold, gold bonds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), sovereign gold bonds (SGBs) etc., since it serves as an effective hedge against inflation, and declining yields. Note that your allocation to gold should not be arbitrary or as a lumpsum, but rather in sync with your overall financial goals, and also, should be increased gradually, via SIPs. However, during prevailing economic conditions, increasing your investments in gold might not be a bad idea as well. But remember to consult with your financial planner over this. Over-investing in gold is also not advisable, since the asset class does not generate high-returns, which means a significant potion of your money could be stuck in a non-yield generating asset, when it could have been in equities or other assets, which generate comparatively more returns.

Is this a good time to invest in gold? Here's what experts are saying

Dear readers, As we approach yet another weekend, here are some key developments across various sectors. Nvidia has surpassed Apple to become the world’s largest company, driven by the AI boom. Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates, by 25 basis points to 4.75%, the second such reduction in 2024. In the workplace, Gen Z’s approach to mental health got attention, with one employee taking a week off after a breakup. Additionally, Indian banks are expecting steady growth, despite challenges in unsecured lending. Read on for all the details! <h2>Top stories from the week </h2> Indian banks to have steady growth in earnings over next 3-4 years, fees from unsecured lending may dip, notes Jefferies report Jefferies forecasts steady earnings growth for Indian banks over the next 3–4 years, with a 13% annual loan growth rate. However, a decline in unsecured lending could reduce fee income. While net interest income is expected to grow at 12%, challenges such as rising defaults and a potential dip in rate cuts could affect profitability. Despite this, banks’ return on equity and assets remain promising. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/indian-banks-to-have-steady-growth-in-earning-over-next-3-4-years-fees-from-unsecured-lending-may-dip-notes-jefferies-report/articleshow/115048179.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> Nvidia becomes world’s largest company amid AI boom, surpasses Apple in the race Nvidia has surpassed Apple to become the world’s largest company by market capitalization, driven by the AI boom. The company’s strong performance is fueled by surging demand for its chips used in AI technologies. With a market cap hitting $3.43 trillion, Nvidia continues to dominate the AI hardware sector, powering data centres and AI research. The company’s revenue growth of 122% YoY further cements its leadership in the AI space. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/nvidia-becomes-worlds-largest-company-amid-ai-boom-surpasses-apple-in-the-race/articleshow/115003223.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> ‘He had a breakup and took a one-week leave’: Manager shares about his Gen-Z employee, internet reacts A manager’s tweet about granting a Gen Z employee a week off for a breakup sparked widespread debate. While the manager expressed frustration over project delays, internet users defended the employee’s mental health needs, criticizing the manager’s lack of empathy. Some supported the manager’s view, pointing out generational differences in work culture. The incident went viral, furthering discussions about Gen Z’s unique workplace expectations. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/he-had-a-breakup-and-took-a-one-week-leave-manager-shares-about-his-gen-z-employee-internet-reacts/articleshow/115041747.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> US Fed cuts interest rates by 25 bps, Powell notes Trump’s victory to have no impact on policy decisions The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.75%, the second such reduction in 2024. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized the Fed’s independence despite Trump’s criticism and suggested that the economic outlook remains uncertain, though the Fed is focused on inflation targets. Trump’s policies may lead to higher inflation, adding complexity to the Fed’s efforts to stabilize prices. Experts anticipate that bond yields will stabilize, benefiting emerging markets like India. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/us-fed-cuts-interest-rates-by-25-bps-powell-notes-trumps-victory-to-have-no-impact-on-policy-decisions/articleshow/115070690.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> Big Tech’s winners and losers from Donald Trump’s win, according to the market After Donald Trump’s election victory, tech stocks surged, with companies like Tesla seeing significant gains. Tesla’s rise was fueled by Trump’s public support for CEO Elon Musk. Conversely, companies like Apple faced challenges due to fears over potential tariffs on China. While some, like Google, might benefit from lighter regulations, others like Meta could face political challenges. Overall, the election results reshaped market expectations for Big Tech’s future. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/here-are-big-techs-winners-and-losers-from-donald-trumps-win-according-to-the-market/articleshow/115067798.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Read more</a> <h2>Top web stories</h2> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/webstories/donald-trump-on-screen-a-look-at-his-iconic-cameos/slidelist/115045250.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Donald Trump on screen: A look at his iconic cameos</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/webstories/8-lifestyle-mistakes-contributing-to-health-problems-in-india/slidelist/115051791.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">8 lifestyle mistakes contributing to health problems in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/webstories/10-magical-indian-experiences-every-traveller-should-try/slidelist/115052527.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">10 magical Indian experiences every traveller should try</a>

Weekend wrap: Nvidia’s AI-driven surge, Indian banks’ steady growth and more

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indexes slipped Thursday as traders focused on remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.</li><li>Powell said the Fed is in no hurry to cut rates, and reiterated the strength of the US economy.</li></ul>Indexes ended lower on Thursday, with the election rally fizzling out as traders digested remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and assessed the latest inflation data. The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq fell more than 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost over 200 points. The 10-year Treasury yield, meanwhile, remained nearly flat at 4.447%, hovering close to its highest level since July.Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Thursday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,949.17, down 0.6% </li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 43,750.86, down 0.47% (-207.33 points)</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 19,107.65, down 0.64%</li></ul>The slide comes after Powell signaled the Fed is in no rush to cut interest rates while the US economy remains on solid footing. "The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates," Powell said during prepared remarks at an event in Dallas. "The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully."Powell added the US has had the best domestic growth of any major economy, and emphasized the strength of the labor market. He said the October jobs report's slowing job growth was largely due to storm-related damage.Powell's comments come as investors seek hints of the Fed's intended easing path after a 25 basis point cut last week. Trump's election win has sparked worries that inflation could rise again under his proposals for broad tariffs and mass deportations, which could cause the Fed to pause rate hikes, economists say.Traders expect the central bank to cut another 25 basis points at its December meeting before pausing in January, according to the CME <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">FedWatch tool</a>.Powell's comments also follow the latest inflation reading which shows wholesale prices rose 0.2% in October, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The data was in line with expectations but showed inflation remains somewhat sticky, with a year-over-year increase of 2.4%.The core producer price index, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.3% in the month and 3.1% year-over-year.Meanwhile, jobless claims data on Thursday, showed weekly claims dropped to their lowest since May, falling to 217,000 last week. That marks a 4,000 decline from the week prior.Here's what else is going on:<ul><li>Investors are underestimating how deep <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-2025-trump-tariff-inflation-growth-2024-11">rate cuts will be in 2025</a>, Goldman Sachs says.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/electric-vehicle-stocks-trump-end-ev-tax-credit-tesla-rivian-2024-11?_gl=1*1794use*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTYxNjYwOS40MTAuMS4xNzMxNjE3NjM3LjIyLjAuMA..">EV makers slid</a> on report Trump wants to scrap the EV tax credit.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/disney-stock-price-3q-earnings-streaming-profit-guidance-cruise-parks-2024-11?_gl=1*6r1dtf*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTYxNjYwOS40MTAuMS4xNzMxNjE3NjUxLjguMC4w">Disney stock surged</a> as rare three-year forecast sees strong profit growth ahead.</li><li>China's weak economy and record US production will lead to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/oil-outlook-supply-crude-prices-us-production-china-opec-2024-11?_gl=1*1he4945*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTYxNjYwOS40MTAuMS4xNzMxNjE3NjcwLjYwLjAuMA..">surplus</a> of one million barrels of oil a day next year, IEA says.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures were up. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wti">West Texas Intermediate crude</a> rose 0.3% to $68.63 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, climbed 0.3% to $72.48 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> rose fell 0.5% to $2,572 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury was nearly flat at 4.447%.</li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> was down 1.4% to $87,531. </li></ul>

Stock market today: Indexes fall as Powell says the Fed is in no hurry to cut interest rates

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indexes rose Thursday to continue a post-election rally after the Fed cut interest rates.</li><li>The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points, a smaller move compared to its September meeting. </li></ul>Indexes ended higher on Thursday, extending a post-election rally after the Federal Reserve delivered a rate cut at the end of its latest policy meeting. The Nasdaq jumped 1.5% to a new record high, while the S&amp;P 500 climbed 0.8% to a new record. The Dow Jones Industrial Index was nearly flat after surging by more than 1,500 points on Wednesday. Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Thursday:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/s&amp;p_500?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">S&amp;P 500</a>: 5,973.10, up 0.74% </li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/dow_jones?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a>: 43,729.34</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/nasdaq_composite?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest%3Futm_source%3Dmarkets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Nasdaq composite</a>: 19,269.46, up 1.5%</li></ul>Major indexes gained as the Fed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-quarter-point-powell-inflation-election-2024-11">cut rates by 25 basis points</a>, which was widely expected after an initial jumbo 50 basis point cut in September.Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed will continue to be data dependent, but that it is prepared to adjust its easing pace as necessary.Though some noted after the meeting that the Fed's tone may have sounded less confident about the path of inflation, noting "progress" has been made rather than the previous wording of "further progress," analysts were unconcerned."The Committee had used this language as a threshold to start cutting, so we interpret its removal as a reflection of the fact that the cutting cycle is already underway rather than as an indication of reduced confidence in the inflation outlook," analysts from Goldman Sachs said in a Thursday note.CPI data has been slightly sticky above the Fed's 2% target, with the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-september-cpi-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-interest-rates-2024-10">latest report</a> showing inflation cooled in September but less than economists had expected.The labor market, on the other hand, appears to be a smaller source of stress for the Fed, but Powell said it's "prepared to adjust the pace and destination" of easing as the jobs data evolves."There seems to be less anxiety about the risk of rising unemployment and slowing job growth," Fitch Ratings chief economist Brian Coulton said in a Thursday note.The latest employment data, released Thursday, shows weekly jobless claims increased slightly to 221,000, a gain of 3,000 from the week before and in line with expectations.Investors seem hopeful Trump's light regulatory stance and proposals for corporate tax cuts will make for a more friendly business environment. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-bull-rally-trump-deregulation-tax-cuts-evercore-2024-11">Evercore ISI this week predicted</a> the S&amp;P 500 to jump 11% by next summer as the rally accelerates in Trump's second term. Powell said the election outcome will have "no effect" on the Fed's policy in the near future and reiterated that the Fed does not speculate on any administration's potential impact on the economy.Here's what else is going on:<ul><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/polymarket-whale-banked-85-million-profit-trump-president-election-win-2024-11?miRedirects=1">The Polymarket "whale" made a lot more</a> than previously thought betting on Trump to win. </li><li>Stocks are entering "Crazy Town" as valuations near generational highs. </li><li>Stocks tied to Russia rally as Trump's win <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/russia-stocks-trump-win-ukraine-war-putin-zelenskyy-2024-11?_gl=1*7o1w4e*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTAxMTE0MC4zNzguMS4xNzMxMDEzMTI1LjYwLjAuMA..">fuels hopes</a> for an end to the Ukraine war.</li><li>Trump's win created a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/wealthiest-people-in-world-net-worth-increase-trump-victory-stocks-2024-11?_gl=1*1kcs0b*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMTAxMTE0MC4zNzguMS4xNzMxMDEzMTUyLjMzLjAuMA..">record $64 billion</a> of net worth for the world's 10 richest people.</li></ul>In commodities, bonds, and crypto:<ul><li>Oil futures were up. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wti">West Texas Intermediate crude</a> rose 0.5% to $72.06 a barrel. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Brent crude</a>, the international benchmark, climbed 0.7% to $75.42 a barrel.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/gold-price?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">Gold</a> rose climbed 1.4% to $2,713.80 an ounce.</li><li>The 10-year Treasury fell nine basis points to 4.335%. </li><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> was up slightly to $76,505.</li></ul>

Stock market today: Stocks extend post-election rally as the Fed cuts interest rates

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Wednesday.</li><li>It's the first interest-rate cut in over four years.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-decision-this-week-federal-reserve-powell-inflation-2024-9">An interest-rate cut</a> has arrived — and it's a big one.On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee announced it would be cutting interest rates by 50 basis points. It's the first time the Federal Reserve has cut rates since March 2020.This puts an end to the central bank's aggressive inflation fighting during the pandemic and confirms Fed Chair Jerome Powell's remarks during his address at Jackson Hole last month, during which he said that "the time has come for policy to adjust": The economy is continuing to inch toward the Fed's 2% inflation target, and it would soon be appropriate to ease off of the restrictive monetary policy.The consumer price index, which measures inflation, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-august-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-rate-cuts-2024-9">rose 2.5%</a> year over year in August, coming in below July's 2.9% reading. The unemployment rate also unexpectedly ticked down in August, giving the Fed the data it needs to cut rates.According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">CME FedWatch</a>, which estimates interest rate changes based on market predictions, a rate cut was all but certain; the question was how big of a cut the Fed would implement. Markets were expecting a 50-basis-point cut, per the predictions, and Wednesday's announcement fell in line with expectations.Additionally, some economists and Democratic lawmakers have been calling for a rate cut of at least 50 basis points for months. Skanda Amarnath, executive director of advocacy group Employ America and a former Fed economist, told reporters at a Monday briefing that "it's better to act early.""It's better to move faster before the data is screaming that we're in a recession because, by that time, 50 basis points may be just not enough," he said.Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren, John Hickenlooper, and Sheldon Whitehouse wanted Powell to go even further, urging him in a Monday <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/warren_hickenlooper_whitehouse_letter_to_fed_re_september_rate_cut.pdf">letter</a> to cut interest rates by 75 basis points."If the Fed is too cautious in cutting rates, it would needlessly risk our economy heading towards a recession," they wrote.While Powell has faced criticism from some experts and lawmakers for waiting too long to cut rates, he has said multiple times that it was better for the Fed to hold off until it received all the data it needed rather than cutting rates too early and having to hike again at a later date.It's unclear how aggressively the Fed will continue to cut in the coming months, but it'll take time for Americans to feel the relief's impact. There will likely be lags in the housing and car industries, as a single rate cut will not have a material impact in the short term. The same goes with credit cards — interest rates on credit cards have been at historic highs, and it'll take a while for those with balances to see relief.Specifically, credit-card interest rates have almost doubled over the past decade to 22.8%, with delinquencies on the rise, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/todays-mortgage-rates-tuesday-17-2024-9">average rates</a> for 30-year fixed mortgages now stand at 5.50%.But overall, it's a positive signal for the direction of the US economy."They're going to cut rates this week," Bharat Ramamurti, senior advisor for economic strategy at the American Economic Liberties Project, told reporters during a Monday briefing. "And that is a sign from the body that is most focused on this, that our war on inflation is over."

The Fed gives the US its first jumbo interest-rate cut in 4 years

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.

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

Around the world, all eyes will be on the US <keyword id="19904332" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Federal-Reserve" source="keywords">Federal Reserve</keyword> meeting, which starts today, and will announce changes in <keyword id="19950650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="keywords">interest rates</keyword>, if any, after concluding its two-day meet tomorrow i.e. on 18th September. Most experts are anticipating a 25 basis point <keyword id="19920203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rate-cut" source="keywords">rate cut</keyword>, while some suggest a sharper, 50 basis point rate cut might also be possible. According to the <keyword id="19950992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CME-FedWatch" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CME FedWatch" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CME FedWatch">CME FedWatch</keyword> tool, there is an 85% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut in September. However, the firmer-than-expected core inflation reading will perhaps make it more difficult for Fed chairman <keyword id="20058769" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jerome-Powell" source="keywords">Jerome Powell</keyword> to justify a 50 basis point cut in September. However, as Gaurav Garg from Lemonn, a trading and investing platform explains, “a bold 50-basis-points (bps) rate cut could ignite optimism leading to weaker dollar and further inflows into emerging markets like India, while a cautious 25 bps move may trigger disappointment, with markets currently pricing increasing odds for a bigger cut”. Historically, a rate cut fuels optimism in the domestic markets, as it reduces corporate borrowing costs and increases consumer spending power. Lower interest rates also implies cheaper borrowing, which is advantageous for homeowners looking for lower mortgage rates. “The reduction in borrowing costs may promote demand in the home market as well as encourage refinancing activity”, says Swapnil Aggarwal, Director, VSRK Capital “However, the market’s reaction will depend on the motivations behind the Fed’s decision. If the rate cut is in response to concerns about a slowing economy or rising unemployment, the positive market effect could be muted. But if the Fed is cutting rates due to low inflation and a stable growth outlook, markets may rally in response to the more favorable borrowing environment”, Agarwal continued. After this, the Fed would convene between November 5-7. Two key employment reports, which are due before the Fed announces its November outcome, are likely to impact this. However, as experts see it, there is a slight leaning towards a 50 basis point rate cut in November, with the probability currently at 52.4%, as per CME FedWatch For December, the likelihood of another 50 basis point rate cut increases significantly, with the probability standing at 80.4%. “Given the higher probability, if November sees only a 25 basis point cut, it is likely that a 50 basis point cut will follow in December”, says Alex Volkov, a market analyst at VT Markets.

Fed meeting starts today, rate cut on the cards. Here’s what experts are saying

On Wednesday, the US <keyword id="19904332" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Federal-Reserve" source="keywords">Federal Reserve</keyword> slashed the <keyword id="19950650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="keywords">interest rates</keyword> by a mammoth 50-basis points. In response, markets across the world, including the Nifty and Sensex, scaled record highs. While Nifty was up by around 280 points, breaching the 25,000 mark, Sensex was up by almost 1,000 points. Globally, S&amp;P was up by 1.70%, while Hang Seng inched up by 1.06% But did you know that along with the Fed, many other <keyword id="19946830" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-banks" source="keywords">central banks</keyword> across the world also made changes to their interest rates this week? This includes <keyword id="19935367" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Brazil" source="keywords">Brazil</keyword>, Indonesia, Japan, <keyword id="19953502" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Turkey" source="keywords">Turkey</keyword> and England. We take a closer look: <h2>Brazil</h2> Latin America's largest economy, which has set a 3% inflation target for itself, is currently witnessing 4.25% inflation. The apex bank unanimously decided to raise its Selic rate, or benchmark interest by 25 basis points for the first time in 2 years, taking it to 10.75%. The decision making committee, also known as the Copom, also signalled towards three more rate hikes of 25 bps each by the end of this year, closing the year with the Selic at 11.25%. Bolstered by a solid labour market, with unemployment in the country dipping to 6.9% in May, the lowest since 2014, Brazil is also witnessing a surge in employment growth, which grew 2.9% on a YoY basis, and a rise in average monthly earnings, which jumped up 5.6% from the year ago period. Such strong labour markets, combined with higher consumer spending, stokes fears of inflation. This is why such tightening measures i.e. raising the borrowing costs become necessary. <h2>Japan</h2> The country held steady it's short term interest rate at 0.25%, treading largely along expected lines. You'd think the only way up for Japanese interest rates from hereon is up, but the country has, for decades, also held a negative interest rate, something it did away with only in March this year. This was done to fire up consumption and increase borrowing, which seems to be yielding fruits now. Governor Kazuo Ueda also hinted at raising interest rates, if spending and consumption stay in line with the central bank’s target of 2% inflation. <h2> Indonesia</h2> The country announced a quarter basis point (25 bps) rate cut for the first time in 3 years, a surprise move given that most experts anticipated the country to hold steady on to its interest rate of 6.25%. Bringing down the interest rate to 6%, governor Perry Warjiyo expects this to boost the Rupiah, the country's currency and also accelerate foreign inflows into the economy. Given that the country's inflation projections for 2024 and 2025 remain within the targeted 2.5%, experts anticipate more rate cuts in the remaining part of the year. <h2> Turkey</h2> The country's central bank kept the interest rate steady at 50% for the 6th consecutive month in September. Turkey had last hiked it's interest rate by a massive 500 basis point in March this year, in a bid to tame inflationary pressures, which are now down from 75% in May to 52% last month. The central bank estimates that inflation will be down to 42% by end of 2024, dipping further lower to 17.5% by 2025 end. Analysts expect the country to make its first rate cut in November this year, as inflation in the country stabilises to some extent. <h2> England</h2> The good old British refrained from tinkering with their interest rates, leaving it unchanged at 5%, even as their American counterparts slashing interest rates and keeping the interest rate target range between 4.75% and 5%. This comes amidst the rapid rising pace of service prices, which make up for 80% of the British economy, and wage rise. The decision was largely expected, given that inflation, which holds steady at 2.2% as of August, remains above the apex bank’s target. Sevice inflation in the country jumped to 5.6% in August, which is keeping Bank of England on alert. Although, it is expected to revise rates in its next meeting in November.

Not just Fed, but central banks of these countries also tinkered with rate cuts this week

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This is an excerpt from the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Go big or go home.The Federal Reserve didn't hold back when it cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years.The central bank announced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cuts-interest-rates-how-much-september-fomc-powell-inflation-2024-9">a jumbo cut of 50 basis points</a>, ending its ongoing battle against post-pandemic inflation and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/interest-rates-today-fed-meeting-cut-stock-market-powell-economy-2024-9">giving investors exactly what they wanted</a>.While the cut was never in question, its size was widely debated heading into Wednesday's announcement. The speculation was that opting for the larger cut might indicate the Fed is worried about the economy. (The worse things are, the more relief is needed, the thinking goes.)Fed Chair Jerome Powell threw cold water on those concerns. In a press conference after the announcement, Powell said he believes the economy is moving in the right direction.But don't get used to jumbo cuts, as Powell said Wednesday's 50-point reduction doesn't guarantee the central bank will maintain that pace going forward.<div type="image" title="A hand holding money" height="1500" width="2000" msid="113495850" hostid="261" sizebytes="140514"></div>So what does this rate cut mean for … everything?First off, don't expect any immediate changes. It'll take a while before the effects of the cut <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-how-will-they-impact-me-lag-inflation-2024-9">reach the rest of us</a>.But that doesn't mean you can't plan ahead. Our colleagues at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rates-drop-what-to-expect-2024-9">Personal Finance Insider</a> have covered the eventual impacts the rate cut will have on various financial products.Let's start with mortgage rates, since that's an area people naturally think of when it comes to interest rates. Bad news, prospective homebuyers: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-fed-rate-cut-could-impact-mortgage-rates-homebuyers-2024-9">Don't expect mortgage rates to drop much</a> in response to the Fed's announcement, as the market has already priced in the reduction.And if you're locked into a high mortgage rate, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cut-lower-mortgage-rates-should-you-refinance-2024-9">maybe hold off on refinancing</a> until a few more cuts materialize.Another key consideration is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/keep-high-interest-savings-accounts-as-rates-slide-2024-9">where to park your cash</a>. The cut means the rates banks offer for their savings accounts will likely go down eventually.As a result, you might want to consider investing some of the cash you may have sitting on the sidelines in high-yield savings and money market accounts.But experts emphasized it's important not to panic regarding your investments. Instead, use the new rate as a chance to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cut-investing-strategy-financial-planners-2024-9">reevaluate your investment strategy</a>. That could include further diversifying your investments or even diving back into bonds.The rate reduction also won't be enough to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cut-impact-credit-card-loan-rates-debt-consolidation-2024-9">significantly lower high-interest credit card debt</a>. Instead, you'll still have to do it the hard way: Consolidating debt and prioritizing just paying it off.The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

The Fed finally cut interest rates. Here's what comes next. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>President-elect Donald Trump said he would implement tariffs on imported goods.</li><li>Economists said the proposals could boost inflation and raise prices for consumers.</li></ul>One of the first policies President-elect <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-results-trump-harris-presidential-election-2024-11">Donald Trump</a> is expected to enact after being sworn into office is imposing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-expensive-goods-price-impact-presidential-election-scenarios-trump-harris-2024-10#imported-goods">taxes on imported goods</a>.Many economists say these tariffs, as well as some of his other proposals, could kick-start another bout of inflation and interest-rate hikes.Trump has said that his proposals would not impact US prices. "I am going to put tariffs on other countries coming into our country, and that has nothing to do with taxes to us. That is a tax on another country," he said in an August speech.Some experts have argued <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-plan-tarriffs-benefits-top-earners-study-2024-10">otherwise</a>. Economists and investors project that taxes imposed on imports will be passed on to American consumers in the form of higher prices. In an economic chain reaction, households would then pay higher interest rates on borrowing of all kinds as the Fed moves to tame that newly rekindled inflation.<h2 id="28eee089-e5e3-42d1-bc61-18122840af26">Ramping up tariffs from Trump's first term is expected to eat into Americans' wallets</h2>On the campaign trail, one of Trump's cornerstone proposals was a 60% <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/where-does-trump-vance-stand-on-china-tariffs-inflation-taxes-2024-7">tariff</a> on goods imported from China and a 10% to 20% tariff on imports from other countries.The US Census Bureau reported that broad tariffs would likely affect the prices of automobiles, drugs for human and veterinary use, food and beverages, furniture, and household appliances.Trump could announce these changes as soon as he takes office because they would not require congressional approval, but because implementation could take time, consumers would not see higher prices immediately.An <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.piie.com/sites/default/files/2024-09/wp24-20.pdf">analysis</a> from the nonpartisan Peterson Institute examined Trump's proposed 60% tariff on goods imported from China and estimated that it would boost inflation by 0.4 percentage points in 2025. The estimate does not include Trump's proposal for a 10% to 20% tariff on other imports.Markets are also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/bonds/surging-treasury-yields-after-trump-win-show-borrowers-may-not-get-relief-2024-11">expecting higher inflation</a> under Trump; bond yields surged following Trump's victory. That led to the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising, meaning homebuyers are on track to see higher interest rates on loans.An <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/tpc-trump-tariffs-would-raise-household-taxes-and-slow-imports">analysis</a> by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center found that Trump's policies would decrease posttax incomes by an average of $1,800 in 2025. A separate <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/trumps-tariff-would-cost-the-typical-american-household-roughly-1500-each-year/">analysis</a> by the left-leaning Center for American Progress said that his tariff plans could cost the typical American household an extra $1,500 a year.Tariffs are typically used to raise government revenue and bolster domestic manufacturing. Trump enacted them in his first term as part of his "America First" policies, including a 25% tariff on Chinese goods that ultimately <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tariff-trade-war-risk-china-exports-great-depression-economy-2024-5">led to a trade war</a> between the two economies. While they did not significantly impact inflation, they did raise taxes for consumers. The Tax Foundation <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/where-does-trump-vance-stand-on-china-tariffs-inflation-taxes-2024-7">estimated</a> that Trump's tariffs during his first term amounted to a nearly $80 billion tax increase on Americans buying Chinese imports.Trump's win is also expected to influence the Federal Reserve's upcoming decisions on interest rates. While it's too soon for the Fed to make any adjustments since Trump has not yet implemented any tariffs, members of the Federal Open Market Committee will likely begin discussing how Trump's future economic policies could affect consumers — including whether the central bank would need to hike interest rates in the future in response to inflationary pressure.The Fed is expected to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-federal-reserve-election-jerome-powell-inflation-jobs-2024-11">cut interest rates by 25 basis points</a> on Thursday, and Fed chair Jerome Powell will likely offer some insight into the Fed's direction following Trump's victory.However, the future of the Federal Reserve <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cut-trump-fed-powell-reaction-independence-history-2024-9">is uncertain under Trump</a>. The president-elect has previously suggested that he would like to have a say over interest-rate decisions, something presidents do not currently have. This raises the question of whether the central bank would continue to remain politically independent.Americans will likely learn more about what to expect from Trump as the year comes to a close. While Trump has maintained that his policies will help the economy and leave Americans better off, the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-presidency-policies-inflation-economy-americans-joseph-stiglitz-letter-2024-6">previously told Business Insider</a> that the "general consensus" among experts is that "the Trump administration would be more inflationary.""The broad assessment of the consequences of that is that the Fed would be forced to raise interest rates, and all that combined would still serve to increase inflation even as unemployment increased and GDP slowed," he said.

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US Fed cuts interest rates by 25 bps, Powell notes Trump's victory to have no impact on policy decisions

Ira Alok Puranik

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Is this a good time to invest in gold? Here's what experts are saying

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Weekend wrap: Nvidia’s AI-driven surge, Indian banks’ steady growth and more

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Stock market today: Indexes fall as Powell says the Fed is in no hurry to cut interest rates

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Stock market today: Stocks extend post-election rally as the Fed cuts interest rates

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The Fed gives the US its first jumbo interest-rate cut in 4 years

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

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Fed meeting starts today, rate cut on the cards. Here’s what experts are saying

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Not just Fed, but central banks of these countries also tinkered with rate cuts this week

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The Fed finally cut interest rates. Here's what comes next.

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Get ready for inflation and interest rates to rise again

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