Financial Advisor: Interest rate hike is ‘pretty good news’ for markets

Dollar bill
Kevin Kingston, a Financial Advisor at Savant Wealth Management spoke with WJBC’s Blake Haas. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – The Federal Reserve is hiking interest rates to stave off inflation for the second time in a row.

On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced the hike of 75 basis points or 0.75%.

“Wall Street doesn’t like to be surprised,” added John Ruedi with Savant Wealth Management. “When they (the Federal Reserve) were making the case with 75 basis points, and that’s what their expectations were. Had it raised a percent, it might of scared some folks thinking we were in a tougher situation than we really are.”

The June Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of the nation’s inflation, showed inflation roaring at 9.1% over the past year.

“So all in all, that’s pretty good news from the Fed (Federal Reserve), and the markets certainly liked it,” said Kevin Kingston, a Financial Advisor at Savant Wealth Management.

At the market close on Wednesday, the S&P 500 closed up 102 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 436 points.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…