Treasury bill purchases
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Many Positive Takeaways from the Fed Meeting Amid Cautionary Warnings
The Federal Reserve cut rates by 0.25 percentage points in December, pairing a modest “hawkish” trim with a new $40 billion‑monthly Treasury bill purchase program that quietly eases liquidity. Officials forecast stronger 2026 growth and signal only two more cuts before 2027, prompting a market rally and expectations of a “Santa Claus” surge. Meanwhile, NATO’s 5 %‑GDP defense‑spending target is driving a $4.3 billion influx into European AI‑defense startups, creating investment opportunities as legacy contractors partner with agile AI firms.
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Investors Cheer as the Fed Delivers a Hawkish Rate Cut
The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark rate by 25 bps, paired with a new $40 billion Treasury‑bill purchase program and an upgraded 2026 GDP growth forecast to 2.3 %. Chair Powell dismissed further hikes, prompting equity markets to rally and expectations of a year‑end “Santa Claus” surge. Meanwhile, President Trump’s criticism of Europe’s response to the Ukraine war heightened geopolitical tension, raising risk for tech and defense sectors that rely on transatlantic coordination and joint R&D. Investors are cautioned that policy uncertainty could increase volatility.
