Analysis: Powell remains silent on whether there will be a rate cut in September

Powell sidestepped the question of whether the Federal Reserve would start cutting interest rates in September. He stuck to his consistent view, that is, the two-way risk of monetary policy. Cutting rates too early could reignite inflationary pressures, while if they cut too late, the Fed might cause unnecessary damage to the economy. According to CME data, traders predict a roughly 70% chance of a Fed rate cut in September.