Once the Fed signals its intentions or investors perceive that the end is near, stocks might rise strongly.
What the Fed is telling us here is that they are not of the mind to put so much tightness on the economy as to jeopardize modest growth in the year ahead, and the market is taking great delight in that.
There have not been any big blips in inflation (so far this year).
It will be all the disappointments that attract everyone's attention. They will get the headlines, but the underlying strength of the market will continue through this quarter easily.
I don't think he did anything to make anyone doubt his strength, intellect or willingness to listen. And that is good.
I'm not exactly convinced that this market is overly bullish.
Economic strength poses a possible risk that the Fed might find it necessary to increase interest rates even beyond May. With that comes the risk that the economy could be slowed substantially, which is something that had been taken off the table at least in the last month.
The housing report today and other numbers from last week indicate more strength in this economy than had previously been thought.
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