Your browser is: WebKit 537.36. This browser is out of date so some features on this site might break. Try a different browser or update this browser. Learn more.
Evening Briefing Americas

Fed Officials’ Musings on Rates Spur Market Jump

Get caught up.

Beth Hammack, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, said there is good reason for officials to hold interest rates at current levels.

Photographer: Brian Kaiser/Bloomberg

With fear of a self-induced US recession gripping Wall Street, any news is good news these days. So it can’t be too surprising that stocks spiked in frenzied trading Thursday after a few Federal Reserve officials publicly mused about possibly cutting interest rates in the near future.

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack told CNBC the central bank could move as early as June if it has clear evidence of the economy’s direction. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller similarly said he’d support rate cuts if President Donald Trump’s tariffs start pushing Americans out of work.