“We have made no decisions about September,” Powell said. The chair acknowledged that if the Fed cut its rate too soon, inflation could move higher, and if it cut too late, then the job market could suffer.

All else being equal, a more accommodative Fed is generally good for the stock market. Lower interest rates stimulate economic growth, which boosts corporate earnings; reduce borrowing costs, which improves profit margins; and make stocks more attractive relative to fixed-income alternatives.

What time is the Fed rate decision? ​The Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision is scheduled for September 17th, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), which corresponds to 6:00 PM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).