The Markets   It’s beginning to look a lot like a rate cut…   A lot of information about the economy arrived last week. Some was delayed by the government shutdown. Some was right on time. Investors took a look and decided their holiday wish could come true. The Federal Reserve (Fed) might deliver a cut rate cut this week. Here’s a brief recap of the information that landed just in time for the Fed to consider it.   Inflation rose in line with expectations . From August to September, headline...

The Markets   A change of direction…   Stock markets in the United States reversed course last week, with two major indices eking out gains for the month, reported Callum Keown of Barron’s. There were some other important changes last week that also may affect markets and investors. Here’s a recap:   New expectations for rate cuts . Stock markets gained as the probability that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will lower the federal funds rate in December increased from 30 percent on November 19 to...

The Markets   Uncertainty abounds.   Investors were skittish last week. Share prices jolted higher and lower amid concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) data center spending, upcoming Federal Reserve rate decisions, and the strength of consumer spending, reported Phil Serafino and Natalia Kniazhevich of Bloomberg. These issues will affect the future performance of companies, and investors are trying to anticipate what may be ahead.   In the third quarter, companies were profitable and...