Fed rate cuts have mixed impact on stocks, so don’t get carried away

THE United States Federal Reserve is almost certain to deliver an interest rate cut next month, and strategists are predicting positive movements in many parts of the market.

Past trading patterns, however, show mixed results from cuts to the federal funds rate (FFR). Investors should carefully examine the thesis for any purchases, especially since equities have been on a generally upward trajectory for the last two years.

The MSCI World Index, for instance, has gained roughly 53 per cent since hitting a four-year low of 2,379 points in 2022. The S&P 500 is up by about 57 per cent from its 2022 low of 3,586 points.