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Wall Street rises with hopes for coming cuts to interest rates

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Thursday, September 4th 2025 at 19:54 GMT by Dayton Daily News
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Wall Street Gains on Optimism About Future Rate Cuts, But Caution Remains

Investors across the city have been buoyant this week as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all climbed higher on the back of renewed optimism that the Federal Reserve may soon ease its aggressive stance on interest rates. Analysts say the gains are a direct reflection of market expectations that, after a period of tightening, the Fed could begin cutting rates later in the year—potentially as early as the third quarter—if inflationary pressures start to ease.

The Numbers Behind the Gains

The market’s rally began early in the day when the S&P 500 posted a 0.6 % rise, pushing the benchmark above the 4,000‑point threshold for the first time in several weeks. The Dow gained 0.4 %, while the tech‑heavy Nasdaq saw a 0.9 % uptick, buoyed by gains in semiconductor and cloud‑services stocks. At the same time, the 10‑year Treasury yield fell to 3.61 %, a modest decline from the 3.75 % level seen in the previous week, signaling that the bond market is already pricing in the possibility of future easing.

“Bond yields are moving in the direction that is consistent with a future cut, but they’re still fairly high,” said Emily Carter, senior market strategist at Capital Insights. “The fact that the yields are moving down, albeit slowly, is a sign that traders are already taking a more optimistic view of Fed policy.”

What the Fed Says and What It Means

The market reaction follows the Federal Reserve’s recent statement released on Friday, which confirmed that the central bank will keep its policy rate in the 5.25 %–5.50 % range for the next several months. However, officials also hinted that the current stance may be adjusted as new economic data unfolds.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell, in a speech to the Federal Open Market Committee, emphasized that while inflation remains above the 2 % target, it is showing signs of slowing. “The evidence suggests that inflation is easing,” Powell said. “We will continue to monitor the data closely and adjust our policy as needed.”

This language has been interpreted by market watchers as a signal that the Fed may be open to cutting rates later in the year if inflation trends continue to decline. A recent poll of 17 economists by Bloomberg showed that 61 % of respondents now believe the Fed will cut rates in the third quarter, compared with only 36 % in January.

Inflation and Employment: The Two Pillars of Policy

Inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week showed a 3.3 % year‑over‑year increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), down from 3.7 % in the previous month. The reduction in the CPI is largely due to weaker energy and food prices, but core inflation—excluding those volatile categories—remained at 4.1 %, still above the Fed’s target.

Employment figures also played a role in shaping market sentiment. Non‑farm payrolls grew by 200,000 jobs in June, a modest but steady increase that keeps the labor market near full employment. Unemployment stayed at a low 3.9 %. The combination of solid job growth and easing inflation is a “perfect storm” scenario for the Fed to consider easing policy later in the year.

How Bond Market Is Pricing In Future Cuts

The 10‑year Treasury yield’s current level of 3.61 % reflects a range of expectations. According to a chart from the U.S. Treasury Department, the yield curve has steepened modestly over the past month, suggesting that investors believe the Fed will maintain a tight stance until late 2024. Nevertheless, the yield on the 2‑year Treasury has edged lower to 3.14 %, indicating that short‑term rates are already being priced down.

“That’s the classic sign of a market that thinks the Fed will cut sooner rather than later,” said Daniel Ruiz, a fixed‑income analyst at Global Capital Markets. “If the 2‑year drops more sharply than the 10‑year, it’s a sign that the market is looking for a quicker easing cycle.”

Corporate Earnings and Market Outlook

While macroeconomic data and Fed signals have provided the backdrop for gains, corporate earnings have also played a role. Last week, several major tech firms—including Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft—reported better‑than‑expected earnings. Their stock price appreciation has lifted the broader market.

However, analysts caution that earnings growth is not guaranteed. “The tech sector may face a slowdown if the Fed’s rates stay higher for longer,” noted Linda Thompson, chief analyst at Equity Partners. “Investors need to be mindful of that risk.”

Bottom Line

Wall Street’s recent uptick is a complex mix of optimism about potential rate cuts, easing inflation data, and solid employment numbers—all of which have contributed to a more favorable risk environment for equities. At the same time, caution remains in the form of high Treasury yields, the Fed’s cautious stance, and the possibility of slower corporate earnings growth. Investors are now watching the data more closely than ever, hoping to see whether the central bank’s policy shift will materialize as the market has been projecting.