Stock futures rise as traders weigh Fed’s super-sized rate cut: Live updates

Published On Sep 18, 2024, 6:00 PM

U.S. stock futures rose after the Federal Reserve announced a surprise decision to cut interest rates by half a percentage point, marking the first rate reduction in four years. Despite initial stock market gains following the announcement, the market closed lower for the day after concerns were raised regarding the Fed Chairman's comments about not committing to further drastic rate cuts. Major companies, including Darden Restaurants, FedEx, and Lennar, are set to report earnings soon, which may influence market movements.

Stock Forecasts

The surprise interest rate cut by the Fed is likely to provide support to the stock prices of companies within interest-sensitive sectors, such as real estate and utilities. However, market caution remains due to comments from the Fed suggesting no further drastic cuts are guaranteed.

FedEx may be positively affected by the rate cut as it could reduce borrowing costs and improve margins in an inflationary environment. Investors will be watching its earnings closely for any guidance on future performance.

Darden Restaurants could benefit from lower consumer borrowing costs, potentially increasing discretionary spending on dining out, leading to a positive reception of its earnings report.

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