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Markets are almost certain the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates today — but investors are increasingly focused on what happens after the decision.

Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are assigning near-100% odds to a 25-basis-point cut, while CME FedWatch sits close behind. Mortgage rates have already been trending lower ahead of the meeting, suggesting much of the move is priced in.

In this video, we break down what economists, banks, and analysts expect next — including why mortgage rates may not fall quickly, why Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s guidance on 2026 is critical, and why one major European bank is warning markets are too confident.

Watch the Federal Reserve decision and Jerome Powell’s press conference live on Benzinga’s YouTube channel today.

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Transcript
00:00The Fed decision today might feel obvious, but what happens after the rate cut is what actually
00:05matters. You see, right now markets are almost certain the Fed delivers a quarter point cut
00:10today. Prediction markets like Polymarket and CalShit put the odds near 100% with hundreds
00:15of millions of dollars bet on it. Even the CME FedWatch has the probability close to 90%.
00:21But here's the bigger story. The cut is already priced in. Mortgage rates have been falling
00:26before the meeting, not after it. The average 30-year mortgage rate is already near 6.2%
00:31down from 6.7% last year, according to Freddie Mac. Economists say any further drop depends
00:37less on the cut itself and more on what Jerome Powell says about 2026. And there's one major
00:43wild card. While nearly every major bank expects a cut, Italy's Unicredit is the lone outlier
00:50calling for the Fed to hold rates steady. If that happens, it could spark major volatility.
00:55A hold could strengthen the dollar, pressure stocks, and force markets to reprice fast because
01:00optimism is already baked in. Even if the Fed cuts today, forecasters expect a slow glide
01:06lower, not a return to cheap money. Fannie Mae sees mortgage rates still around 6% by the end
01:12of 2026. Bank of America says rates closer to 5% are needed to truly unfreeze housing. So today
01:19isn't the finish line, it's the starting point for how markets adjust into 2026. And you can
01:25watch the Fed decision and Powell's press conference live today on Benzinga's YouTube channel. We'll see you there.
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