LIVE NOW: FOMC RATE DECISION + PRESS CONFERENCE 2026
In a Nutshell
FOMC held rates at 3.5-3.75% as expected, with Powell warning that inflation has risen to 3.5% due to energy shocks and tariffs, creating a more uncertain outlook. Powell announced he will stay on as governor until the DOJ investigation concludes, citing concerns about Fed independence. Markets are pricing in a more cautious Fed stance ahead with three dissenters already favoring a neutral position, while high-valuation stocks like SoFi and Intel face pressure from elevated multiples and disappointing fundamentals.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Ricky from Techbud Solutions hosts a live stream on April 29th, 2026 at 10:53 a.m. Arizona time covering the FOMC rate decision and expected press conference with Jerome Powell, potentially his final appearance as Federal Reserve Chair.
The Nasdaq is up 0.28% at the start of the stream. The Fed rate monitor tool shows a 98.9% probability that the Federal Reserve will pause interest rates, suggesting this outcome is already factored into markets. Markets would react positively to rate cuts and negatively to rate hikes. Powell is described as a man of few words who avoids commenting outside his mandate.
The stream focuses on what Powell will say regarding rising inflation, potential adjustments to 2026 rate cut guidance, and whether an interest rate hike could be considered given current conditions.
Intel (INTC) is noted as up 9-10% on the day and described as a meme stock with irrational valuations. The company loses billions annually with a negative P/E ratio, yet trades on speculation that the Trump administration's 10% ownership guarantees success. This is compared to Trump's coin, noting that not everything under the Trump administration succeeds and failures can leave investors holding the bag.
Markets are described as consistently more bullish than bearish, with optimism that prices will continue rising. This creates dip-buying opportunities during selloffs for long-term investors. However, speculative stocks at overbought levels carry significant downside risk. Solid companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia may have inflated prices but generate actual profits, while Intel remains speculative.
Sign in to read the full notes
Get access to AI-generated notes, topic timestamps, and more.