The Federal Reserve is unlikely to raise interest rates, at least for the time being, as market confidence in a rate hike steadily declines. According to the CME Group’s FedWatch gauge of futures pricing, there was merely a 5% probability that a rate hike would occur during the central bank’s December or January meetings. In fact, the possibility for such a move is almost off the table. However, instead of a hike, futures pricing suggests that the Fed’s next move might be an interest rate cut, as confidence in rates stabilizing or declining increases.
The U.S. dollar index fell by 1% following the weaker-than-expected October consumer price index, with the dollar weakening considerably. After the October consumer price index came in lower than anticipated, stocks opened to a higher market, with every major stock index making significant gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 357 points, the S&P 500 gained 1.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite increased by 1.9%. Oil remained somewhat stagnant on Tuesday, despite an earlier forecast proffered by the International Energy Agency that suggested that the demand for crude oil would rise in the coming years.
Moreover, the home improvement retailer Home Depot has beat expectations in their third-quarter earnings and revenue. However, the company’s shares remained rather low due to the tepid guidance that they issued. All these changes in the market are attributed to the October consumer price index, which serves as a critical inflation gauge for the Federal Reserve, sparking significant market movements. But analysts are optimistic about the future, as rates are expected to stabilize according to futures pricing, and this has had a positive impact on stocks as evidenced by opening trading.
