Wall Street anticipates a new all-time high as Washington aims ‘cash bazooka’ at banks and consumers

Market Overview - S&P 500 futures increased by 0.42% before the opening bell, following a 0.88% gain in the previous session, with the index less than 1% away from its all-time high [1] Federal Reserve Actions - The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.5%, which typically encourages more investment in equities [2] - Traders are currently pricing in a 46% chance of another interest rate cut in March, with no expectations for a cut in January [2] Liquidity Programs - The Fed has initiated monthly reserve management purchases (RMPs) of $40 billion to enhance liquidity in the repo market, aimed at stabilizing borrowing costs for banks [3] - Although the Fed states this is not a new round of quantitative easing, it is perceived by some on Wall Street as beneficial for stock prices [4] Economic Impact - The Fed's balance sheet has increased by $21.1 billion over two weeks due to RMPs, which is expected to support M2 and bank loan growth, contributing to nominal GDP growth of approximately 5% [5][6] - Analysts at Wells Fargo suggest that the expansion of the Fed's balance sheet will create buying opportunities during market dips, as liquidity enters a mini upcycle [6]