Short-term interest-rate traders are coalescing around a bet that would pay off if the Fed cuts interest rates just two or three times this year https://t.co/zrSznbLebN ...

The Federal Reserve reducing interest rates by an expected quarter point to a new range of 3.5% to 3.75%. There were three descents, the first time that's happened since September 2019. Two were against the cut, including Chicago Fed President Austin Goulby along with um Kansas City Fed President Jeff Smith.His second descent in a row. Also another disscent for a 50 basis point cut from new Fed governor on loan from the administration Steven Myron. To recap, the vote was nine for cutting a quarter, two agai ...

Market Performance - Nasdaq closed in the green, while the S&P was nearly unchanged and the Dow was down more than 70 points [1] - Nvidia became the first company to hit a $5 trillion valuation, up nearly 15% in the last five trading sessions [1] - Adidas shares dropped more than 10% due to weak sales in North America [1] - Gold settled back above $4,000 but pulled back in the last few hours [1] Federal Reserve (The Fed) Actions and Stance - The Fed cut interest rates by a quarter point, bringing the new range to 375 to 4% [4] - Fed Chair Powell signaled a more neutral stance on a December rate cut, disappointing markets [4] - Traders are pricing in a 30+% chance that rates will remain unchanged at the central bank's final meeting of 2025 [3] - The probability of a rate cut in January rose from 42% to 80% after the press conference [5] - Two descents occurred during the vote: one wanted a 50 basis point rate cut, and the other favored no rate change [7] Economic Indicators and Concerns - The Fed noted reasonably strong economic growth and a booming stock market [6] - The Fed is assessing whether it has taken out enough insurance against a potential weakening in the job market [9] - Inflation is still high, and core PCE is going up [15] - The market may be overly optimistic about future rate cuts, as the Fed indicated that unless data weakens meaningfully, they are not cutting in December [14]

Market Overview - Major stock indices are experiencing losses after reaching record highs earlier in the week, with the NASDAQ leading the decline, down approximately 244 points or 1% [3][4] - The bond market shows a slight decrease in yields, with the 10-year yield at 4.12% and the 30-year yield at 4.73%, both down three basis points [5][6] - Gold futures have reached a record high of 3,800, marking a year-to-date gain of 42.77%, while Bitcoin is down 0.67% year-to-date [6][9] Federal Reserve Insights - Fed Chair Jay Powell warns of "no risk-free path" regarding monetary policy, indicating that inflation risks are tilted upwards while employment risks are tilted downwards [9][10] - Powell notes a significant softening in the labor market over the past few months, which complicates the Fed's decision-making process [11][12] - The current policy rate is viewed as only modestly restrictive, suggesting potential for future rate cuts as the Fed assesses economic conditions [22][24] Company-Specific Developments - Apple shares have rebounded following the release of the iPhone 17 lineup, but analysts express concerns over pricing pressure and lack of innovation in the product [40][41] - Disney is advised to shut down its ABC network rather than sell it, as this could enhance its revenue growth rate and overall shareholder value by approximately 10% [50][52] - CoreWeave has received upgrades from Wells Fargo and Melius Research, with analysts highlighting strong demand for cloud services [60][61] Gold Market Dynamics - Gold prices are driven by central bank purchases and a declining US dollar, with UBS projecting gold to reach 3,900 by mid-2026 if current trends continue [92][93] - China's potential role as a custodian for foreign gold reserves is seen as a bullish factor for gold prices [92] Banking Sector Outlook - The banking sector faces challenges with low loan demand, despite growing deposits, leading to increased share repurchases [95][96] - Non-bank financial companies are experiencing double-digit growth, contrasting with traditional banks [100][101] - The potential for bank mergers and acquisitions is increasing as the market stabilizes, although overpaying for targets remains a concern [101][102]

Group 1: Bitcoin ETF Inflows and Outflows - Spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced a reversal with $51.3 million in net outflows after a week of nearly $3 billion in inflows [1] - Grayscale's Bitcoin Trust saw a $62.6 million outflow, while Fidelity's Wise Origin fund lost $116 million, indicating a significant pullback [2] - BlackRock's iShares fund managed to attract almost $150 million in fresh inflows, highlighting its importance in maintaining institutional demand [2] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Rebalancing - The recent pause in inflows is viewed as a healthy short-term rebalancing rather than a shift in sentiment, following over $2.3 billion in inflows [3] - The cryptocurrency market is expected to stabilize after a rapid influx of capital, which is a natural market behavior [3] Group 3: Impact of Federal Reserve Actions - Bitcoin's price remained relatively stable at around $117,750, reflecting that investors had already anticipated the Fed's 0.25 percentage point rate cut [4] - Ethereum also saw a price increase to around $4,600, driven by a brief rally post-Fed rate cut, indicating a positive market reaction [5] - The Fed's actions are believed to inject liquidity into the market, encouraging investors to seek assets with higher return potential, with Bitcoin being a prominent choice [5] Group 4: Future Outlook - The current market conditions are seen as promising due to a combination of accommodative macroeconomic factors and the maturation of the crypto market [6] - There is an expectation that the inflows into crypto assets are likely just the beginning, driven by institutional demand and a more developed infrastructure [6]

CONCLUDED Stock Market News From Sept. 18, 2025: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit New Highs Last Updated: Crucially, it seems the Fed's independence remains intact since newly appointed Fed member Stephen Miran was an outlier with his calls for half-point cuts at the next two meetings, IG analyst Chris Beauchamp said in a note. Topics Memberships Subscribe to Barron's 13 hours ago Bitcoin Rises After Fed Cuts Rates By Renae Dyer, Dow Jones Newsletters Bitcoin rises, remaining near the one-month high reached earlier ...

Will bitcoin go up if the Fed cuts interest rates?The answer may surprise you. https://t.co/bRxGRWt6fa ...

Diesel’s summer rally may extend into the fall if the Fed cuts interest rates this month, bolstering industrial activity powered by the workhorse fuel, analysts say https://t.co/TlenasSXzA ...