US markets end mostly in red after Fed hikes rates by quarter percentage point

27 Jul 2023 Evaluate

The US markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday after the Fed announced its widely expected decision to resume raising interest following a pause last month. The Fed said that it has decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 to 5.50 percent. With the increase, the midpoint of the target range is the highest since early 2001. The decision to increase rates came as the Fed noted inflation remains elevated, while U.S. economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace and job gains have been robust in recent months. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said it is possible the central bank could raise rates again in September or hold steady, noting the central bank plans to take a meeting by meeting approach.

Powell said ‘We're going to be going meeting by meeting and as we go into each meeting, we're going to be asking ourselves the same questions.' He added ‘So we haven't made any decisions about any future meetings, including the pace at which we consider hiking, but we're going to be assessing the need for further tightening that may be appropriate.’ At the same time, the Fed Chief said the central bank can afford to be a little patient as they assess incoming economic data. On the economic data front, despite the lackluster close by the broader markets, software stocks saw substantial weakness on the day, dragging the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index down by 2.6 percent. Software giant Microsoft (MSFT) led the way lower, plunging by 3.7 percent after reporting better than expected fiscal fourth quarter results but providing disappointing revenue guidance for the current quarter.

Nasdaq fell 17.27 points or 0.12 percent to 14,127.28 and S&P 500 was down by 0.71 points or 0.02 percent to 4,566.75, while Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 82.05 points or 0.23 percent to 35,520.12.  


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