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Wall Street Pauses as Fed Meeting Looms: Futures Hold Steady

U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited the start of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all hovered near flat, reflecting a cautious mood across Wall Street. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but traders are focused on Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the central bank’s updated economic projections. Markets are looking for clues on when rate cuts might begin in 2024, with inflation cooling but still above the Fed’s long-term target. Recent gains in equities have been fueled by optimism that the Fed’s tightening cycle is over, yet uncertainty remains about how quickly monetary policy will shift toward easing. Until then, investors appear content to hold their positions, waiting for clearer signals from the Fed before making bold moves.
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Bank of England Holds Rates Steady at 5.25% Ahead of UK Election

 


The Bank of England (BoE) has maintained its main interest rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% in anticipation of the upcoming July 4 election. While some policymakers considered a rate cut, the decision remained “finely balanced.” 

The BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to keep rates unchanged, aligning with economists’ expectations. BoE Governor Andrew Bailey emphasized that it was “good news” that inflation had returned to its 2% target, but cautioned against premature rate cuts. Sterling dipped against the U.S. dollar following the announcement, and markets now anticipate an 88% chance of a quarter-point cut by September. Despite the election context, the BoE clarified that the decision was unaffected by political considerations. 

The evolving economic indicators will guide future rate decisions, with most economists expecting a cut in August. However, this timing may not benefit Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose Conservative Party trails the opposition Labour Party in pre-election polls. The BoE’s stance reflects the delicate balance between inflation concerns and economic recovery.

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