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Weekly Market Insights: Fed and Middle East Conflict Diminish Stocks

Stocks fell for a third straight week, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s mixed but upbeat message could not offset the anxiety caused by the Middle East conflict.

Stocks Retreat

Markets began the week rattled by further escalation in the Middle East over the weekend. A bit of good news punctuated an otherwise sour Monday, as a stronger-than-expected retail sales report showed consumers were spending despite rising inflation.^1,2

On Tuesday, remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated a shift in thinking—from being confident to not-so-confident about interest rate cuts in 2024. He said rates might need to stay higher until the Fed meets their 2% inflation target.^3,4

On Friday, the markets saw further declines, but investors were somewhat reassured by the perception that Thursday’s retaliatory actions in the Middle East were restricted in scope.⁵

Footnotes and Sources

^{The Wall Street Journal, April 19, 2024}
^{CNBC.com, April 15, 2024}
^{The Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2024}
^{CNBC.com, April 16, 2024}
^{CNBC.com, April 19, 2024}

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