US markets settle lower as Jerome Powell ignites higher rate fears

08 Mar 2023 Evaluate

The US markets settled in red on Tuesday after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested that rates may need to go higher for longer, fueling fears of a potentially larger hike at the central bank’s next policy meeting. The comments indicated that the Fed may consider a larger rate hike than last month’s 25 basis point increase at its next policy meeting on March 21-22. Powell also said the Fed would be prepared to reaccelerate the pace of rate hikes if the totality of incoming data were to indicate that faster tightening is warranted. Additionally, the Fed chief reiterated the central bank will likely need to maintain a restrictive stance of monetary policy for some time in order to restore price stability.

The Fed's next monetary policy meeting is scheduled for March 21-22, with CME Group's FedWatch Tool currently indicating a 70.5 percent chance of 50 basis point rate increase and a 29.5 percent chance of 25 basis point rate hike. On the sectoral front, gold stocks turned in some of the worst performances on the day, dragging the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index down by 4.0 percent to a nearly four-month closing low. The sell-off by gold stocks came amid a steep drop by the price of the precious metal, with gold for April delivery plunging $34.60 to $1,820 an ounce. Substantial weakness was also visible among banking stocks, as reflected by the 3.9 percent nosedive by the KBW Bank Index. The index tumbled to its lowest closing level in well over a month.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 574.98 points or 1.72 percent to 32,856.46, Nasdaq dropped 145.4 points or 1.25 percent to 11,530.33 and S&P 500 was down by 62.05 points or 1.53 percent to 3,986.37.

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