US Stocks Stable as Federal Reserve Chair Powell Talks Rate Cuts

US stocks remained relatively stable on Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated the likelihood of interest rate cuts this year. The S&P 500 rose about 0.1%, while the Dow Jones fell by a similar amount and the Nasdaq Composite rose more than 0.2%.

Powell spoke at Stanford University, emphasizing the “bumpy” downward path of inflation to 2% and hinted at rate cuts in the future. Investors had scaled back expectations for Fed rate cuts due to strong economic data, but reversed losses on Wednesday after a services sector price reading indicated potential future declines in inflation.

In corporate news, Disney successfully fended off activist investor Nelson Peltz’s quest for board seats, causing Disney stock to dip more than 3% after winning a shareholder vote. This news comes as stocks had fallen earlier in the week before rebounding on Wednesday morning.

The market’s reaction to Powell’s comments and the outcome of the Disney shareholder vote reflects the current uncertainty and volatility in the market. Investors are closely watching for any further signals from the Fed on potential rate cuts and keeping a close eye on corporate developments that could impact stock prices.

Overall, the market remains cautiously optimistic as it navigates through a mix of economic data, corporate news, and statements from Federal Reserve officials. Stay tuned for further updates on the evolving market conditions.