US markets end lower on Tuesday

21 Aug 2019 Evaluate

The US markets ended lower with cut of over half a percent on Tuesday as investors contended with worries about the strength of the US economy and political developments in Europe that were weighing on government bonds. Trump once again threatened to impose tariffs on European auto imports. Traders also expressed some uncertainty ahead of the release of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's late-July meeting on Wednesday. The minutes, along with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's speech on Friday, may shed additional light on the outlook for interest rates. The Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points last month and CME Group's FedWatch tool currently indicates a 95 percent chance of another 25 basis point rate cut in September.

Powell suggested that the July rate cut should not be seen as the beginning of a lengthy cutting cycle, but President Donald Trump has been putting intense pressure on the Fed to continue cutting rates. Trump claimed that the US economy is very strong in spite of Powell's horrendous lack of vision. He said the Fed Rate, over a fairly short period of time, should be reduced by at least 100 basis points, with perhaps some quantitative easing as well. He added ‘if that happened, our Economy would be even better, and the World Economy would be greatly and quickly enhanced-good for everyone.’

Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 173.35 points or 0.66 percent to 25962.44, Nasdaq declined 54.25 points or 0.68 percent to 7948.56 and S&P 500 was down by 23.14 points or 0.79 percent to 2900.51.

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