Will Fed cut rates further? Suspense looms as investors expect more relief

A big clue could come from Chairman Jerome Powell when he speaks on Friday at the Kansas City Fed's annual policy retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Federal Reserve officials viewed their interest-rate cut last month as insurance against headwinds from the trade war and low inflation — reasons that look even sharper as they move toward their meeting in September.

Minutes of their July 30-31 meeting released on Wednesday in Washington laid out the reasons for the quarter percentage-point cut, highlighting risks to the outlook even though the US economy, for now, is performing well.

Investors fully expect another rate cut at the Fed’s September 17-18 meeting and further easing this year. A big clue could come from Chairman Jerome Powell when he speaks on Friday