US markets end lower on Wednesday

17 Aug 2023 Evaluate

The US markets ended lower on Wednesday, with Nasdaq settling cut of over one percent, amid indications the Federal Reserve will continue to hold interest rates higher for longer to contain inflation. Further, prospect of a possible downgrade of several U.S. lenders by Fitch Ratings weighed as well. Meanwhile, the minutes from the Federal Reserve's meeting on July 25 & 26 released that showed most of the central bank officials continued to see significant upside risks to inflation, which could require further tightening of monetary policy. The minutes also showed that a few participants were hesitant to embrace further hikes, on concerns that the tightening in financial conditions since the beginning of last year could prove more substantial than anticipated. The central bank lifted its benchmark rate to a range of 5.25 to 5.5 percent last month, the highest level in 22 years.

On the economic data front, a report from the Commerce Department showed new residential construction in the U.S. saw a substantial rebound in the month of July. The Commerce Department said housing starts surged 3.9 percent to an annual rate of 1.452 million in July after plunging by 11.7 percent to a revised rate of 1.398 million in June. Street had expected housing starts to increase to a rate of 1.448 million from the 1.434 million originally reported for the previous month. Meanwhile, the report said building permits inched up by 0.1 percent to an annual rate of 1.442 million after tumbling by 3.7 percent to a revised rate of 1.441 million in June. Building permits, an indicator of future housing demand, were expected to climb to a rate of 1.463 million from the 1.440 million originally reported for the previous month.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 180.65 points or 0.52 percent to 34,765.74, Nasdaq declined 156.42 points or 1.15 percent to 13,474.63 and S&P 500 was down by 33.53 points or 0.76 percent to 4,404.33.

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