Rate Cuts at Market Highs! Where Will the S&P 500 Go?

The Fed will hold its most closely watched policy meeting of the year tonight, with markets widely expecting a 25bps rate cut.

The Senate just confirmed Trump’s nominee, Stephen Miran as Fed governor by a 48:47 vote. Meanwhile, a U.S. court dismissed Trump’s criminal charges against current governor Lisa Cook. As a result, tonight’s decision will feature a dramatic four-way lineup: Chair Powell, Trump ally Miran, hawkish Waller, and Cook, who just weathered public scrutiny.

Rate cut at record highs: Can history repeat?

$S&P 500(.SPX)$ has surged over 31% in the past five months, one of the strongest rallies in 20 years, now near 6,600 points—close to all-time highs.


Since 1980, whenever the Fed cut rates with the S&P 500 within 2% of record levels (22 times), the index rose in the following 12 months every single time, averaging +9.8%. If history holds, the S&P 500 could reach 7,247 by Sept 2026.

Inflation vs. growth: Is now the right time to cut?

Despite the market rally, fundamentals are mixed. August CPI rose 0.4% to 2.9%, the highest this year, still above target. Normally, this would argue against easing. But revised labor data shows a weakening job market, easing pressure on the Fed. Still, auto loan delinquencies hit a 14-year high, and tariff impacts could weigh on the economy.

MAGS rotation: Still worth holding?

U.S. equities have lagged EMs overall, but mega-cap tech has dominated:

May: Meta surged, June: Nvidia led, July: AMD took over, August: Tesla & Apple soared, September: Tesla & Google jumped

This year has been a classic “mega-cap rotation” market, with one or two giants posting ~20% monthly gains. The only laggard YTD is $Apple(AAPL)$ —do you see it rebounding?

Questions:

  1. Rate cut: more upside ahead, or already priced in?

  2. Ahead of the decision: trim exposure or stay put?

  3. For 2025: how many bps of cuts can the Fed deliver?

REWARDS

  • All valid comments will receive 5 Tiger Coins (5-50 coins; depend on comment quality; lucky tiger can get 66 coins)

  • Tag your friends to win another 5 Tiger Coins

  • High quality comments will win options handbook

Event detail to click: Weekly Hot Topics Reward: Vouchers, Mouse Pads, Handbooks & Coins Sent!!!

# Market Down 3 Days! Valuations Too High: Would You Hedge?

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Report

Comment17

  • Top
  • Latest
  • kannan2025
    ·09-17

    Yes . Raise 

    Reply
    Report
  • highhand
    ·09-17
    the market might down in the short term but that's a buying opportunity. because the market always go up in the long term.
    Reply
    Report
  • Shyon
    ·09-17
    TOP
    Tonight’s Fed meeting is intense, with Powell, Miran, Waller, and Cook shaping a four-way lineup. Markets expect a 25bps cut, and with the S&P 500 $S&P 500(.SPX)$ up 31% in five months, history points to more upside: rate cuts near record highs have always led to gains, averaging +10%. The S&P could reach 7,247 by next September, so I’m cautiously optimistic.

    Fundamentals give me pause. August CPI hit 2.9%, above target, while the labor market softens and auto loan delinquencies rise. I expect a rate cut but will watch market reactions before acting.

    Mega-cap tech rotation remains strong, from Meta $Meta Platforms, Inc.(META)$ to Nvidia $NVIDIA Corp(NVDA)$ , AMD, Tesla $Tesla Motors(TSLA)$ , and Google $Alphabet(GOOGL)$ , with Apple lagging. I’m holding positions, anticipating a potential Apple $Apple(AAPL)$ rebound, staying invested while managing risk and monitoring possible 2025 cuts.

    @TigerStars @Tiger_comments

    Reply
    Report
  • 北极篂
    ·09-17
    从我个人的观察来看,这一轮美联储的降息并不是“见顶”的终点,而更像是一场中场休息。市场早已预期2025年会有宽松动作,因此首波降息带来的情绪红利已经被定价,短期内再靠“惊喜”推高行情的空间有限。不过,如果未来经济数据持续显示通胀回落、就业温和降温,那么中期趋势仍有上行潜力,特别是成长股与高负债企业会最直接受益。


    在做出投资决定之前,我认为关键是“节奏”而不是“方向”。当前美股主要指数的估值并不便宜,很多资金早已提前卡位。此时如果重仓追高,波动稍大就容易被套。我的做法是削减高波动、对利率极敏感的仓位,保留核心资产,同时手握部分现金,以便在市场情绪回调时加码。换句话说,不是彻底撤退,而是降低风险敞口,让自己在不确定中更有回旋余地。


    至于2025年美联储能降多少,其实取决于两个变量:通胀下行的速度以及就业市场的韧性。以目前趋势推算,如果核心PCE持续向2%靠拢且失业率稳在4%左右,我认为全年总降幅可能落在75至100个基点之间,最多也就125个基点。换句话说,宽松会持续,但节奏大概率是“慢撒糖”而非“大放水”。投资上,我会保持中性偏多,等待数据给出更清晰的方向,再决定是否加大风险资产的比重。
    Reply
    Report
  • Market ready to take a dump
    Reply
    Report
  • MHh
    ·09-17
    The rate cut has been priced in but this does not stop the market euphoria as the weak labour market does fuel expectations for further rate cuts beyond the one in September. So, I would think that the next rate cut is being priced in too. I prefer to stay put ahead of the decision as i expect the stock prices to continue to rise if the fed gives the market what it wants to see. If the fed gives a 50bps cut, the market will definitely rise much more. So, I prefer to stay put in expectation of greater profit.


    If the labour market remains weak yet inflation can remain roughly the same or drop in spite of all the tariffs that trump threatened, I think the Fed will deliver a total of 75-100 bps cuts for the rest of this year. @Success88 @Wayneqq @Universe宇宙 @SPOT_ON @Fenger1188 @HelenJanet @LuckyPiggie @Kaixiang @SR050321 @DiAngel come join
    Reply
    Report
  • Aqa
    ·09-17
    TOP
    Markets widely expect the Federal Reserves to cut interest rate. There is certainly more upside ahead for the stocks. Wishing all Tiger friends good luck! Do due diligence before each trade.🍀Thanks @Tiger_comments @icycrystal @GoodLife99 @TigerStars @Tiger_comments @Tiger_Earnings @Tiger_chat @Tiger_SG
    Reply
    Report
  • TimothyX
    ·09-17
    儘管市場反彈,但基本面好壞參半。8月份CPI上漲0.4%至2.9%,爲今年最高,仍高於目標。通常情況下,這會反對寬鬆。但修正後的勞動力數據顯示就業市場疲軟,緩解了美聯儲的壓力。儘管如此,汽車貸款拖欠率仍創14年來新高,關稅影響可能會給經濟帶來壓力。
    Reply
    Report
  • takleee
    ·09-18
    buy the winners they will survive any kind of environment because they build on fundementals
    Reply
    Report
  • Cadi Poon
    ·09-17
    TOP
    美聯儲將持有其今晚最受關注的政策會議,市場普遍預期降息25個基點。

    參議院剛剛以48:47的投票結果確認了特朗普提名的斯蒂芬·米蘭爲美聯儲理事。與此同時,美國一家法院駁回了特朗普對現任州長麗莎·庫克的刑事指控。因此,今晚的決定將有一個戲劇性的四人陣容:主席鮑威爾、特朗普的盟友米蘭、鷹派沃勒和剛剛經受住公衆監督的庫克。

    Reply
    Report
  • Axekay
    ·09-17
    Hoping for the long awaited rate cut, and hopefully more positive uptrend in stock right after! [Miser]
    Reply
    Report
  • 1PC
    ·09-17
    I don't see Apple 🍎 Rebounding 🪃 as strong as before... hence already let it go 🤣. I viewed that the overall markets still have the upside to move, holding on to my seats 💺😔. @JC888 @Barcode @Shyon @Shernice軒嬣 2000 @koolgal @Aqa @DiAngel
    Reply
    Report
  • some stocks were priced in and some not yet. good example of pricer in stocks are Nvidia and Google.
    Reply
    Report
  • Dan1192
    ·09-18
    This is one of the most exciting event of the year, similar to the recent US open where Carlos edged over Jannik and clinched World number 1 title.

    Here's my humble views for the coins!

    1. Rate cut is largely priced in and should be expected. The crux is whether there will be further cuts and how much.

    2. The latter is going to swing the market. To be conversativre, I have set some stop losses in place. A cautious investor may want to lock in their profit now.

    3. As the US economy is still strong, especially with holiday spending season coming up, I take the view that there should be at least one more cut, totalling 50 basis point cut for 2025.

    Bonus value, I think that the average American will grab the chance to refinance their mortgages so I think this sector is going to pop. I bought into $loanDepot, Inc.(LDI)$ (fellow baggers come give a like!)

    @CaptainTiger @Daily_Discussion @Buffett Investment Tracker @Bill Gates Holdings @Tiger_comments

    Reply
    Report
  • ECLC
    ·09-18
    Expect minimum 25bps cut. Saw a number of profit-taking happening and bought some on dips. Ready to buy on further dips or to sell for small profits depending on market outcome.
    Reply
    Report
  • dropppie
    ·09-17
    This historical insight is eye-opening
    Reply
    Report
  • Go
    Reply
    Report