Markets are watching Washington and the Federal Reserve closely after President Trump and other senior officials renewed pressure on the Fed to avoid another rate hike, even as traders still price in roughly a 60% chance of a quarter-point increase later this month. The debate matters because the latest jobs report showed 162,000 new positions in August, which keeps the Fed focused on inflation risks rather than cutting too soon. If rates stay higher for longer, that can weigh on stocks that depend on cheap financing and on richly valued growth names. But if the Fed signals it’s done tightening, investors could get relief across equities, bonds, and rate-sensitive sectors like housing and small caps. The key takeaway is that the next inflation reading may decide whether this is a pause in policy or the start of another move higher, and that could set the tone for markets into year-end.
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