The Latest Breaking News from Jerome Powell

What’s so special about the number 2? Quite a lot, if you’re a central banker – and that number is followed by a percent sign.

The Federal Reserve’s busiest year for rate hikes since Jimmy Carter was president may be coming to an end — but U.S. central bankers’ rate increases are far from over.

Federal Reserve officials have signaled plans to raise their benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage point at their meeting next week, but elevated wage pressures could lead them to continue lifting it to higher levels than investors currently expect.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently hinted at a rate-hike slowdown but cautioned that the fight against inflation is far from over. Furthermore, some market experts predict the economy will enter a recession next year. Amid an uncertain economic backdrop, it could be worth watching fundamentally strong stocks Deere (DE), KT…

Recession fears may not be overwrought so much as premature.

"Affordability will be restored. The [housing] market won't be overvalued after this process is over," says Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi.

RECAP: Asian shares were mixed yesterday as investors were heartened by the possible easing of Covid curbs in China, while they awaited job figures in the United States that could determine whether the Federal Reserve will start to moderate its interest-rate increases as widely expected.

Following October's inflation data, the Fed is expected to slow down its rate hikes. Broader markets responded well to the Fed Chair's assurance. Moreover, value stocks have historically outperformed growth stocks when rates are high. Hence, cheap stocks Overseas Shipholding (OSG) and Good Times Restaurants (GTIM), which are currently trading…

Cooling down inflation and smaller rate hikes are expected to boost consumer sentiment. Hence, quality consumer stocks Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Ennis (EBF) might be solid buys now. However, Vinco Ventures (BBIG) might be best avoided now because of its weak fundamentals. Keep reading….