Financial Insider for Novice Investors on Wednesday, 17th September
The financial landscape is shaping up for an eventful day as investors brace for the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and several economic releases on September 17.
Dow futures are showing a mixed picture, with the Dow Jones futures edging up 0.05% ahead of the market open, while the Nasdaq 100 futures are down 0.04%. The S&P 500 futures are also down by 0.03%.
The stock market has been on a rollercoaster ride this year, with the S&P 500 experiencing an 18.1% pullback in 2022, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipping 0.4% in trading on Tuesday. The Nasdaq Composite followed suit, falling 0.3%.
The Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, will hold a press conference and present the Fed's latest dot plot on Wednesday. The dot plot depicts the interest rate outlooks of FOMC members, offering investors insights into how rates may evolve going forward.
The market expects a rate reduction from the Fed today, with the most likely outcome being a 0.25-point reduction, but a larger 0.50-point cut is also possible. The federal funds rate has remained above 3% since October 2022.
Other economic and financial news releases on the calendar for September 17 include housing starts, building permits, and General Mills, Inc. (GIS) earnings report.
Looking back, it's worth remembering that the stock market has always recovered, even from the worst of times. For instance, the S&P 500 fell 37% over the course of 2008, but it eventually bounced back. Similarly, the S&P 500 fell a staggering 20.5% in one day in October 1987, but it recovered too.
During tough times, opting for high-quality stocks with proven resilience and reliable dividend-payers can be a wise move. Their cash payouts can feel like windfalls when your account value is shrinking. Stock market crashes also create opportunities to pad your share count at lower per-share prices.
In times of market volatility, it's essential to have a market crash action plan. This might include finding out what's happening, reviewing holdings for high-risk positions, deciding to hold or sell high-risk positions, finding bargains and keeping investing, and tuning out the financial news.
The institution that will announce the interest statute on September 17 at 14:00 Eastern Time Zone appears not explicitly named in the search results. However, such announcements are typically made by local government entities or municipal councils. For example, related public statutes are announced by city or municipal administrations on official dates close to September 17, 2025.
