Happy Thursday! As expected, the Federal Reserve made a quarter-point rate cut, but investors shouldn’t count on an immediate market rally. Read on to see how similar moves have played out and what that means for your portfolio.

Also, the rate cut has ignited a fiery debate amongst economists about the balance between growth and taming inflation. Read on to see what experts are saying about inflation, jobs and the markets.

Plus, Benzinga is hosting the biggest Fintech conference of the year. Click here for more details, and come join the biggest names in Fintech.

In Today's Edition

• MARKET RECAP

• MARKET HEATMAP

• FIVE ZINGERS

• MARKET HISTORY

• ONE FOR THE ROAD

History Warns: S&P 500 Often Slips After Fed Rate Cuts — Here’s What You Need To Know

As expected, the Federal Reserve delivered a quarter-point rate cut, but don’t mistake this for a guaranteed boost to the stock market.

History shows that the S&P 500 often struggles in the weeks following such moves, as markets tend to price in these cuts well in advance. Read on for all the details to see how the market has reacted and what you can likely expect going forward.

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Yesterday: U.S. indexes ended mixed Wednesday following the expected quarter-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve. It was a volatile day of trading with the Dow finishing up more than 250 points, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 finished down on the day. In addition to the rate cut, Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled a cautious outlook, describing the move as “risk management” and downplaying expectations for an aggressive rate-cutting cycle. Policymakers now project two more cuts in 2025 and just one in 2026, well below market hopes. Despite the pullback, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq remain on pace for weekly gains. In other news, treasury yields rose, the U.S. dollar strengthened and oil prices declined amid recent gains and supply concerns.

On Our Radar: Analysts will be watching initial jobless claims, the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey and the leading economic indicators report this morning. On the earnings front, all eyes will be on FedEx (FDX), which will report results after the market close today.

Shares of Workday (WDAY) and Charter Communications (CHTR) were climbing higher, while Uber (UBER), Palantir (PLTR) and Nvidia (NVDA) fell… But those weren’t the only companies making big moves. Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on Wednesday.

Discover how the market is moving with our interactive heatmap. Filter by market cap, or click on any box to explore specific sectors or assets in more detail.

Goldmine Or Landmine? Stock Snapshot Reveals The Truth In 10 Seconds

Forget the hype and guesswork — this one-glance snapshot cuts straight to the numbers that matter. Instantly see hidden “F-Grade” warnings before they sink your portfolio, and spot breakout strength the talking heads never mention. In just seconds, you’ll know if a stock is built to soar or destined to collapse.

On This Day In 2014…

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba (BABA) made its Wall Street debut in one of the most anticipated and record-breaking IPOs in U.S. history. The company priced its initial public offering at $68 per share, the top of its expected range, raising $21.7 billion and securing a valuation of $167 billion. The IPO remains the largest in U.S. history, and the company currently has a market cap of nearly $400 billion.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“You learn in this business: It you want a friend, get a dog.“

— Carl Icahn

Economists Warn 'Stagflation Is In The Room' Amid Interest Rate Cut News

The Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut has sparked a heated debate among economists, revealing growing concerns about a looming stagflation scenario where slowing growth collides with persistent inflation.

While some praise the Fed’s commitment to central bank independence and cautious policy shifts, others warn that the Fed’s inflation forecasts may be overly optimistic and that rate cuts could inadvertently hurt the labor market and consumer prices.

Read on for the full analysis, which breaks down the risks, the signals and what’s next for the Fed’s strategy.

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