The Federal Reserve just delivered another 25-basis-point rate cut, lowering the federal funds rate to 3.75%–4.00% — its second consecutive cut in as many meetings. Fed Chair Jerome Powell struck a cautious tone, saying another rate cut is “not a foregone conclusion — far from it.”
Stocks reacted mixed:
Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.55% (+100 points) to 23,958.47
S&P 500 slipped 0.01% to 6,890.59
Dow Jones fell 74 points to 47,632.00
On the corporate front, Caterpillar (CAT) soared 12% on a strong earnings beat, while Boeing (BA) dropped 4% after reporting a wider Q3 loss. Verizon (VZ) reported mixed results but reaffirmed 2025 guidance.
Meanwhile, the CNN Fear & Greed Index rose to 42.3, signaling easing market fear — though sentiment remains cautious. Investors now await major tech earnings from Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), and Mastercard (MA).
