S&P 500 and Fed Funds Target Rate When the Fed cuts rates outside of a recession, U.S. stocks typically perform well. However, a perceived “too dovish” cut, signaling excessive economic worry, could disrupt the ongoing year-end stock rally. Image: Bloomberg
Fed Funds Rate – 2026 Year-End Rate Levels Expectations Deutsche Bank’s latest poll of 40 global market participants shows expectations for the fed funds rate at end-2026 anchored near 3.2%, regardless of whether Powell keeps rates unchanged or opts for a 25-basis-point cut today. Image: Deutsche Bank
Median S&P 500 Performance After Fed Cuts Rates The S&P 500 has typically rallied about 50% in the two years after the Fed begins cutting rates. But when those cuts hit during recessions, those gains often don’t last. Image: Deutsche Bank
Median U.S. 10-Year Treasury Yield Performance in Fed Rate Cuts Cycles Fed rate cuts usually pull short-term yields lower, but long Treasury bonds don’t always fall in line. Inflation expectations, shifting bets on future policy, or a flood of new debt can just as easily push them higher. Image: Deutsche Bank
Composition of Fed Liabilities with Projections With QT ending, the Fed will pivot to reserve management purchases of Treasury bills in early 2026. Goldman Sachs expects bank reserves to climb past $3 trillion by late next year, a sign that liquidity is finally loosening again. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
S&P 500 Performance Around First Fed Cut Fed easing sounds bullish, but not when growth cracks. In recessions, U.S. stocks have often fallen despite cheaper money. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Market Pricing of Fed Rate Cuts Traders are increasingly confident the Fed will cut rates at the December 10, 2025 FOMC meeting, pricing in an 86% chance of a quarter-point move and just a 23% likelihood of another cut in January 2026. Image: Deutsche Bank
Atlanta Fed GDPNow U.S. Real GDP Estimate Estimates from the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow point to 3.9% annualized GDP growth in Q3 2025, a reminder that the U.S. economy isn’t cooling just yet. Image: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
S&P 500 Returns After Fed Cuts At All-Time Highs Bulls are smiling for good reason: Every time since 1983, rate cuts with the S&P 500 at record highs have been a winning formula — stocks have risen a median 15.2% over the next 12 months. Image: Carson Investment Research
Fed Funds Rate and 10-Year U.S. Treasury Yield The S&P 500’s record-breaking rally shows no signs of cooling, with market participants now positioning for another Fed rate cut on October 29 to fuel the next leg higher. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Inflation – Fed Funds Rate and CPI With the Fed funds rate still running well above inflation, policy looks overly tight—and investors are betting on deeper rate cuts to follow. Image: Real Investment Advice