Markets React As Yellen’s Testimony Signals A Possible Rate Hike In March

Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve, the Fed, interest rates
Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen

Central bankers will consider a short-term rate hike at the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting, Fed Chair Janet Yellen signaled during her testimony to Congress this morning, with markets shrinking back from record highs in reaction to the news.

With continued tightening in the labor market and rising inflation, Yellen painted an optimistic picture of the economy, saying she and her colleagues “expect the economy to continue to expand at a moderate pace, with the job market strengthening somewhat further and inflation gradually rising to 2%,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Markets bounced around during Yellen’s speech on Capitol Hill, MarketWatch reports, toggling between minute gains and big losses as the market inferred from Yellen's comments that the Fed could raise rates sooner rather than later. The S&P 500 index was down two points to 2,325 below the record level reached Monday, with the Dow Jones trading down 0.1%, or 10 points off, and the Nasdaq off by seven points.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's National Newsletters
Related Stories

Clarion Hires Prologis Executive To Lead Power Strategy

Why Data Centers Need To Embrace 'Responsible Resiliency'

The Bridge-To-Bridge Bet Is Holding Off CRE's 'Day Of Reckoning' — For Now

Augmentation, Not Replacement: How AI Platforms Are Streamlining Front Desk Teams

Lawmakers Punt On Stripping Approvals From 15 Projects In Data Center Alley

Success Of Top-Tier Malls Masks Enduring Distress In Sector's Underbelly

HUD Launches Investigation Into Wells Fargo's Efforts To Support Black Homeownership

Delaware Statutory Trust Fundraising Jumps 27% From 2025

Bank OZK Shares Drop After Citi Flags $915M Mortgage Concern

Soaring Yields Strand REITs In M&A No-Man's-Land

How UK Investment Giant L&G Plans To Grow Its U.S. Multifamily Holdings

Properties Owned By REIT Accused Of Fraud To Be Auctioned Off