Market Awaits Powell’s Speech as Fed Rate Cut Hopes Wane
US stock futures showed muted movement as investors braced for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's keynote at Jackson Hole. The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures edged up 0.1%, reflecting cautious Optimism amid shifting rate expectations.
Last week's inflation data sent conflicting signals. While July's CPI met forecasts and briefly fueled rate-cut bets, a hotter-than-expected PPI report quickly tempered enthusiasm. Fed minutes revealed most officials view inflation as a persistent threat, with only two dissenters favoring immediate rate cuts.
Two policymakers recently voiced skepticism about September easing. Political pressures add complexity, with former President TRUMP publicly criticizing Powell and targeting Fed Governor Lisa Cook.
