Federal Reserve prepares to cut interest rates for the 3rd time in 2025

TradingKey - As of the European session on September 30, gold prices (XAUUSD) continued to recover after a sharp decline earlier this week, reclaiming $4,200 intraday and last trading near $4,195. Gold had previously dropped to a seven-week low near $4,110 and remains down nearly 6% cumulatively since September. With the upcoming release of the US August PCE inflation data, short-term market focus has shifted back to inflation and the Federal Reserve's subsequent rate hike path.

TradingKey - U.S. stocks closed modestly lower as long-term Treasury yields climbed to their highest levels since 2002 and U.S. consumer confidence fell short of expectations. Some technology stocks rebounded, optical communications shares outperformed, and bank stocks lagged.

US stocks edged lower as US Treasury yields climbed to multi-year highs again. Some tech stocks rebounded, with optical communications shares leading the gains and bank stocks leading the declines. At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.26% to 51,349.92; the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.09% to 26,797.54; and the S&P 500 Index dropped 0.17% to 7,670.84.

TradingKey - In the coming week (September 28 to October 2, ET), US markets will face the most concentrated macroeconomic data window between late September and early October. Key reports—including the US August PCE Price Index, September Nonfarm Payrolls report, ADP employment, JOLTS job openings, and the ISM Manufacturing Index—will be released in succession, providing fresh evidence for the market to gauge the Federal Reserve's next interest rate path.

TradingKey - Micron Technology (MU) will release its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results after the market close on September 30, Eastern Time, and host an earnings conference call at 16:30 on the same day.