Overnight we saw the S&P 500 slip by 0.3%, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite also down by 0.2%. The selling spree was largely spurred by rising apprehension over imminent inflation and burgeoning interest rates.
Speculation is rife that the Federal Reserve is set to bolster interest rates by 50 basis points at its upcoming meeting in June. If the speculation becomes reality, this will be the most formidable rate hike since the turn of the millennium.
Upon closing, the S&P 500 stood at 4,152.94, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite ticking off at 33,240.08 and 12,144.66, respectively.
In the short-term, investors should brace themselves for market volatility as they grapple with the knock-on effects of rising inflation and interest rates. If the Federal Reserve continues its trajectory of hiking interest rates in order to counterbalance inflation, it could trigger an economic slowdown.
As economic data trickles in over the coming weeks and months, it will be closely examined by investors seeking a clearer picture of the economy’s health. If signals point to a slowdown in economic activity, we may witness a stock sell-off. However, a continued trajectory of economic growth could give way to a stock rally.
Market volatility appears to be a given in the near term. Investors are urged to steel themselves for potential shocks – both positive and negative.