A dose of reality for rate-cut dreamers
Just weeks ago, weak payroll revisions had the market salivating. Traders were convinced that a softening labour market would force the central bank into submission. Warsh instead used his debut address to strike a far firmer tone on inflation than anyone anticipated.
He hinted that rate hikes might still be on the menu.
To me, this was a masterful pivot that caught the rate-cut bulls completely off guard. This does not guarantee that higher rates are coming, but it certainly scrambles the odds. If you are trying to piece together the broader timeline, the Fed Chair Finalists Could Signal Rate Changes 2025 narrative provides some excellent context on how leadership shapes these policy shifts.