Stocks rise as pace of rate hikes studied

Stocks closed broadly higher on Wall Street Wednesday, after the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting showed central bank officials agreed that smaller rate hikes would likely be appropriate “soon.”

The S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.3 percent. The Nasdaq composite closed 1 percent higher.

Long-term Treasury yields fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which influences mortgage rates, slipped to 3.69 percent from 3.76 percent.

At the Nov. 1-2 meeting, Fed officials expressed uncertainty about how long it might take for their rate hikes to slow the economy enough to tame inflation. At a news conference afterward, Chair Jerome Powell stressed that the Fed wasn’t even close to declaring victory in its fight to curb high inflation. Other Fed officials in the weeks since the meeting signaled that additional hikes would still be necessary.

Still, a “substantial majority” of the officials felt that smaller rate hikes “would likely soon be appropriate,” according to the minutes of their meeting.

That line of thinking is likely to stoke optimism among investors who have been trying to gauge how soon central bank officials would begin to dial back the pace of rate hikes in the campaign to lower inflation.

“Markets continue to hold onto gains as the Fed minutes reinforce what Fed speakers have been telegraphing since the November 1-2 meeting,” said Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist for LPL Financial. “That is that the Fed is stepping down in terms of rates, from the aggressive campaign of 75 basis points to 50 basis points most likely at the December 13-14 meeting.”

The central bank’s benchmark rate currently stands at 3.75 percent to 4 percent, up from close to zero in March.

Wall Street has been watching the latest economic and inflation data for any signs that might allow the Fed to ease up on future rate increases. Investors are worried that the Fed could slam the brakes too hard on economic growth and bring on a recession.

Consumer spending and the employment market have so far remained strong points in the economy.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since August, but the figure still remains low.

Technology stocks and some big retailers helped drive a big share of the gains in the benchmark S&P 500 index Wednesday.

Crude oil prices fell 3.7 percent, which weighed down energy stocks. Hess fell 2.2 percent.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 23.68 points to 4,027.26. The Dow gained 95.96 points to 34,194.06. The Nasdaq rose 110.91 points to 11,285.32.