Thanks, Chair Powell. Matt Eaggan from CNN. We re we we recently learned that average FICO credit scores are down this year by two points, the most since 2009 during the Great Recession, and delinquencies are high for car loans, personal loans, credit cards.How concerned, if at all, are you about the health of consumer finances. And do you expect today's cut will help. So, you know, we're aware of that.I think this default rates have been um kind of ticking up and we do watch that. Um they're not at a level ...

SPECIAL REPORT: See The Most Trusted Financial Firms By Category Members of the Federal Reserve's policy committee kick off their two-day meeting today, ahead of their crucial interest rate decision on Wednesday. IPO stock Millrose Properties leads a group of housing and homebuilders stocks setting up ahead of the announcement, as many analysts expect the Fed to cut rates. CME Group's FedWatch tool estimates a 96% chance of a 0.25… Related news Fed Meeting In Focus With FedEx, Lennar, Meta Due; Tesla Leads ...

Federal Reserve and Economic Indicators - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut interest rates by 25 basis points to a range of 4.00% to 4.25%, with expectations for another cut in October and December [2] - The Fed noted a moderation in economic activity, with slowed job gains and a slight increase in the unemployment rate, while inflation remains elevated [5] - Business investment has accelerated compared to the previous year, despite a slowdown in consumer spending and a weakened housing sector [6] Stock Market Reactions - Following the Fed's announcement, the Dow Jones Industrial Average initially surged but closed with a 0.6% gain, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experienced declines of 0.1% and 0.3% respectively [9] - Small-cap stocks, particularly the Russell 2000 Index, rallied, reflecting a positive response to lower interest rates, closing modestly higher [7] Housing Market Trends - Housing starts fell by 8.5% month-over-month in August, reversing previous gains, while building permits decreased by 3.7%, indicating a downtrend influenced by high mortgage rates [12] - A 2% decline in mortgage rates is suggested as necessary to stimulate the housing market [12] Company-Specific Developments - Nvidia's stock declined by 2.6% after reports of a ban by China's internet regulator on tech companies purchasing its products, which may be used as leverage in U.S.-China trade negotiations [10][11] - StubHub completed its IPO, pricing approximately 34 million shares at $23.50 each, raising about $800 million, with its stock opening at $25.35 and closing at $22.00 [13][14]

Market Overview - On September 17, 2025, U.S. stock markets exhibited mixed performance, influenced by the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and significant corporate news [1][11] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 304.25 points, closing at 46,062.15, a gain of approximately 0.66%, while the S&P 500 fell by 4.86 points to 6,601.90, a decrease of 0.07%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 95.59 points to 22,238.37, down 0.43% [2] Federal Reserve Decision - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, marking the first rate cut of the year, amid signs of a weakening labor market [3] - Investors are awaiting the FOMC meeting minutes and updated "dot plot" projections for insights into future rate paths and economic outlook [3] Corporate News - Nvidia (NVDA) shares declined by approximately 1.6% due to reports that China's internet regulator instructed major tech firms to cease purchasing Nvidia's AI chips [5] - Oracle Corporation (ORCL) shares increased by 1.5% as it is part of a consortium to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. [6] - Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) shares rose by 1.9% after announcing an additional $500 million for share buybacks, raising total authorization to approximately $750 million [6] - ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (ADTN) stock plummeted by 15.1% following a $150 million convertible senior notes offering [7] - Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) shares fell by 16.7% after reporting second-quarter earnings significantly below estimates [7] - Workday (WDAY) shares surged by 6.9% after Elliott Investment Management disclosed a stake of over $2 billion in the company [8] - StubHub (STUB) debuted on the NYSE at $23.50 per share following its IPO [9] - General Mills, Inc. (GIS) reported a 7% decrease in net sales for Q1 fiscal 2026, but a 108% increase in operating profit due to a yogurt divestiture [10] - Manchester United plc (MANU) reported an increase in commercial revenue for the 2025 fiscal fourth quarter and full year [10]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates by a quarter point, indicating a response to economic conditions [1] - One governor within the Federal Reserve advocated for a larger rate cut, highlighting differing opinions on monetary policy [1] - The central bank chair described the current economic environment as a "challenging situation," balancing persistent inflation against a weakening labor market [1] Summary by Categories Interest Rate Changes - The Federal Reserve's decision to lower rates by a quarter point reflects ongoing adjustments to economic conditions [1] - The call for a larger cut by one governor suggests internal divisions regarding the appropriate monetary policy response [1] Economic Conditions - The central bank is facing a dual challenge of managing persistent inflation while addressing a weaker labor market [1] - The characterization of the situation as "challenging" underscores the complexity of the current economic landscape [1]

CONCLUDED Fed Cuts Rates by a Quarter Point, as Expected, and Sees 2 More Cuts This Year Last Updated: 2 hours ago Here's What Happened at the FOMC Meeting Today By Sabrina Escobar (AFP via Getty Images) The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in nine months on Wednesday, signaling concerns about a weakening labor market. The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee voted to lower its target range for the federal-funds rate by a quarter percentage point to 4% to 4.25%, in line with inv ...

Corporate Developments - China has instructed its largest tech companies, including Alibaba, not to purchase Nvidia's AI chips, effectively banning tens of thousands of orders, which led to a nearly 3% drop in Nvidia shares [4] - General Mills reported quarterly sales that exceeded estimates; however, shares declined after the company warned of a challenging consumer environment [5] - Cracker Barrel's results are under scrutiny following controversy over its now-abandoned logo change [5] Economic Context - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, marking the first reduction of the year, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 0.5%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell by 0.1% and 0.3% respectively [1] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell described the rate cut as a "risk management cut" due to a deteriorating labor market amidst high inflation, with indications of two more rate cuts expected this year [2] - Concerns over the Federal Reserve's independence are growing, particularly with President Trump's influence over policymakers, highlighted by the dissent from newly confirmed Fed governor Stephen Miran who advocated for a 50 basis point cut [3]

Core Points - The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points and indicated two more reductions are expected this year due to pressure from the White House [1] - Chair Jerome Powell cited signs of weakness in the labor market as a reason for the rate cut, noting that job creation is below the break-even rate needed to maintain the unemployment rate [2] - The Federal Open Market Committee voted 11-1 to adjust the federal funds rate target range to 4%-4.25%, after maintaining rates steady for five consecutive meetings [3] Decision Dynamics - Governor Stephen Miran, who favored a larger half-point cut, was the only dissenting vote, highlighting a notable victory for Powell amid expectations of multiple dissents [4] - The committee's decision reflects a unified approach despite external pressures, with Powell emphasizing the need to manage inflation risks stemming from tariffs [5] - Powell described the Fed's future rate decisions as being made on a "meeting-by-meeting" basis, indicating a cautious outlook [6]

Group 1 - Oil prices eased after a three-day advance, with Brent around $68 a barrel following a 3.2% gain in previous sessions, as traders assess the impact of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision [1][3] - The recent oil price gains have not been sufficient to break out of the $5 band it has been in for most of the past month and a half, influenced by geopolitical tensions and bearish fundamentals [2] - OPEC+ supply is expected to increase, raising predictions of a potential glut later in the year, while rising oil tanker earnings indicate higher output [2] Group 2 - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a quarter-point interest rate cut, with the market also pricing in three additional cuts by April [3][4] - A recent industry report indicated a decline in U.S. crude inventories by 3.4 million barrels last week, which would mark the largest drop in a month if confirmed by official data [4] - Brent's second-month implied volatility has decreased, reaching its lowest level in over three weeks, as prices remain within a narrow range since early August [5]

Shares of Nvidia extended its downward trajectory on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve lowered the benchmark interest rate. The economic event did not help arrest the slide in Nvidia as the S&P 500 fell after posting slight gains after the Fed's decision. ...