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Prof. Jeremy Siegel speaks at Wharton Global Alumni Forum in Madrid, Spain, in 2010

Portfolio > Economy & Markets

What Powell's Comments Mean for Stocks: Siegel

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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments after the central bank raised its benchmark interest rate yesterday contained a positive signal for the stock market, Wharton School and WisdomTree economist Jeremy Siegel said Thursday.

The Fed, seeking to further reduce high inflation, raised the rate by 25 basis points to a 5.25% to 5.5% range, as anticipated, Wednesday after pausing its aggressive hiking cycle in June.

At a press conference after the move, Powell indicated the Fed would closely monitor upcoming economic data and consider interest rate decisions on a meeting-by-meeting basis, implying the central bank could hike or potentially pause again at its next meeting.

Siegel, speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” said Powell seemed to acknowledge that the economy faces downside risks.

“This was the best news conference I heard from Jay Powell in over a year,” Siegel said. “He virtually came close to saying there’s balanced risks out there.”

Three key sensitive economic indicators — money supply, commodities and housing prices — have stopped falling, Siegel noted, adding that very high interest rates aren’t having as negative an effect as he had feared.

That, combined with Powell now saying, “‘I’m going to  look at both sides of the equation,’ I think is very positive for the market,” Siegel said.

While Siegel expected stocks to rise this year, “I certainly am surprised at the upside. Again, I thought maybe 15% this year, now we’re closer to 20 and going up,” he said.

Cyclical and value stocks have an opening now given the prospects for an economic soft landing, Siegel suggested.

Coming into an election year in 2024, the Fed is in a “dual mandate situation,” a reference to the central bank’s long-term mission to maximize employment while keeping prices stable.

Any weakness in the labor market will have more devastating effects now than inflation, which the public seems to mention less as a problem, he said. 

If the Fed responds to such weakness and stops hikes or lowers rates,  the markets should be in a good place, Siegel suggested.

Powell, after the rate hike, said the central bank remains focused on its dual mandate to promote maximum employment and stable prices, and committed to bringing inflation down to its 2% goal. He said the full effects of the Fed’s tightening hasn’t been felt and signaled the central bank wouldn’t be comfortable cutting interest rates this year.

Powell also cited signs that labor supply and demand are coming into better balance but that the labor market remains very tight.

Photo: Bloomberg


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