US markets end sharply higher as Fed signals lower borrowing costs in 2024

14 Dec 2023 Evaluate

The US markets ended sharply higher on Wednesday after the Fed announced its widely expected decision to leave interest rates unchanged while also confirming plans to pivot to cutting rates next year. In support of its dual goals of maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run, the Fed said it decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5.25 to 5.50 percent. The accompanying statement said the decision came as economic growth has slowed from its strong pace in the third quarter, while inflation has eased over the past year. The projections provided by the Fed also suggest the central bank will begin cutting rates next year, with the median forecast indicating rates will be lowered to 4.6 percent by the end of 2024.

The median forecast points to rates in a range of 4.50 to 4.75 percent, hinting the Fed plans to cut rates by 25 basis points three times next year. On the sectoral front, Gold stocks showed a substantial move back to the upside following recent weakness, resulting in a 6.4 percent spike by the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index. The rally by gold stocks comes as the price of the precious metal soared in electronic trading on the heels of the Fed announcement. Considerable strength was also visible among biotechnology stocks, with the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index surging by 4.3 percent to its best closing level in over three months. Banking, commercial real estate and utilities stocks also showed particularly strong moves to the upside following the Fed announcement.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 512.3 points or 1.4 percent to 37,090.24, Nasdaq surged 200.57 points or 1.38 percent to 14,733.96 and S&P 500 was up by 63.39 points 1.37 percent to 4,707.09.


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