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Global Stock Markets Rise in Anticipation of Fed’s Monetary Policy Easing

<p>Svjetska tržišta, burze</p>
Svjetska tržišta, burze / Image by: foto Shutterstock

Thanks primarily to the inflation report in the U.S. for July measured by consumer prices, which rose a moderate 2.7 percent year-on-year, expectations have strengthened that the Fed will lower interest rates in September, which fueled last week’s surge in stock prices on Wall Street and other global exchanges.

The Dow Jones index rose by 1.74 percent last week, to 44,96 points. At the same time, the S&P 500 jumped 0.94 percent, to 6,449 points, and the Nasdaq increased by 0.81 percent, to 21,622 points, during which they also reached new record levels.

The main stock indices on Wall Street thus achieved growth for the second consecutive week, driven by expectations that the Fed might restart the monetary easing cycle by reducing the interest rate by 25 basis points in September.

The U.S. central bank last lowered borrowing costs in December, announcing that U.S. tariffs could increase price pressures. However, recent weakness in the labor market and signs that tariff-induced inflation has not yet reflected in overall consumer prices have convinced investors of a potential easing of monetary policy next month. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Wednesday that he believes an aggressive interest rate cut of half a percent is possible, given the weak employment figures.

It has also been reported that U.S. retail sales rose solidly in July, by 0.5 percent compared to the previous month.

– This market continues to grow based on corporate earnings and margins. The inflation figures we saw this week were mostly in the services sector, and in a service-based economy like ours, that is good for profit margins – said Talley Leger, chief market strategist at The Wealth Consulting Group in New Jersey.

According to Joe Saluzzi, head of equity trading at Themis Trading, although markets have largely priced in a rate cut in September, investors may be overlooking risks. One of them is that stock prices, especially in technology, are very high. The S&P 500 is now trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 23 based on future estimates, which is nearly 40 percent higher than its 20-year average, he said.

– U.S. stocks are expensive – stated Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research.

European stock prices also rose last week. The London FTSE index strengthened by 0.5 percent, to 9,139 points, while the Frankfurt DAX rose by 0.81 percent, to 24,162 points, and the Paris CAC increased by 2.6 percent, to 7,743 points.

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