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While traders will be closely watching the Federal Reserve’s annual Jack Hole symposium for clues on future interest rate hikes, history shows that the event rarely moves markets in a big way and experts predict that it is unlikely the central bank will pull back from its path of aggressively raising rates to tame inflation.
Experts predict that the Fed’s Jackson Hole symposium won’t offer many new clues about upcoming rates … [+]
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Investors were cautiously optimistic ahead of Fed chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole symposium on Friday, with stocks rising slightly on Thursday as anticipation builds for any new clues on the direction of future monetary policy.
Despite some optimism in markets about cooling inflation last month, the central bank has indicated that it is unlikely to take its foot off the pedal in raising interest rates until there is a clear slowdown in inflation, which will “take some time.”
“Every Fed official is saying some variation of the same thing—we have more tightening to do and while there has been some good news on inflation, the battle has a long way to go,” explains Vital Knowledge founder Adam Crisafulli.
Despite the excitement around Jackson Hole, the conference is historically “unremarkable as an equity market catalyst” and is unlikely to change market expectations about more rate hikes later this year, according to Bespoke Investment Group.
The S&P 500’s average performance dating back to 1979 “suggests very modest gains around the conference before a more sustained rally,” according to the firm—though that remains to be seen this time around as inflation roars and stocks struggled to find their footing following a summer rally that has fizzled out.
“Everyone remembers Powell’s mistake” when the Fed chair stuck to the “inflation is transitory” narrative at last year’s Jackson Hole Symposium, “so he will be extra motivated to make sure his message is clear and aggressive about fighting inflation,” predicts Oanda senior market analyst Edward Moya.