Markets quiet but nervous ahead of Fed and earnings

Chris Beauchamp IG

Investors have barely had time to catch their breath following the AI volatility of the week so far, but now the Fed decision and tech earnings are upon us, says Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at online trading platform IG.

Markets drift ahead of the Fed and tech earnings

Monday’s slump and Tuesday’s recovery have given way to indecisive trading today as investors await the Fed decision and earnings. Tonight’s rate decision is all but guaranteed to be a hold, but the press conference will likely prove to be one of the more interesting, if only to watch Jerome Powell don his diplomatic garb once again and avoid being drawn on how the new administration’s possible tariffs will affect Fed policy. President Trump has already made it clear that he expects rates to come down, and Powell will likely have to field a number of questions on this topic.

Big tech earnings take centre stage

The week so far has been dominated by the tech sector thanks to the new AIs coming on stream from China. Investors will be hoping that tonight’s trio of titans will repeat Netflix’s trick from last week and provide good news in spades. ASML set the stage today with better figures, but sentiment remains brittle following Monday’s volatility.

Author

Chris Beauchamp

Chris Beauchamp has been with IG for four years, and in that time has become a regular commentator and analyst for the financial press and TV, with appearances on all the major financial channels as well as the BBC and Sky News.

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