Fed Cuts Interest Rates by 0.25% What It Means for Global and Indian Markets
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s recent decision to cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25% to a range of 4.25%–4.50% has sent ripples through global financial markets. While the move was widely expected, the Fed’s unexpected projection of fewer rate cuts in 2025 unsettled investors, triggering a sharp sell-off in equities worldwide. In its latest economic outlook, the Fed reduced its expected number of quarter-point cuts in 2025 from four to just two, indicating that higher interest rates may persist longer than previously anticipated. This shift has amplified concerns about the pace of global economic recovery. Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that inflation has "eased significantly" but remains "somewhat elevated" compared to the central bank’s 2% target. Despite optimism about the U.S. economy, Powell emphasized the Fed is nearing the end of its current rate-cutting cycle. Global Market Reactions Wall Street reacted sharply to the Fed’s announcement, with all three ...