Fed Cuts, Rates Rise: Why the Market Snapped Back

The Fed cut rates—and mortgage rates still spiked. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack how a routine announcement turned into a market whiplash, why Powell’s press conference rattled investors, and what borrowers should watch heading into December.
In this episode you’ll learn:
  • The twist: A quarter-point cut brought mortgage rates from 6.13% → 6.27%, reversing weeks of progress.
  • What Powell said: December cuts are “far from a sure thing,” ending Treasury QT but continuing MBS runoff—spooking markets.
  • Labor puzzle: The Fed blames shrinking workforce participation and lower immigration, not weak demand.
  • AI bubble talk: Powell dismissed concerns, calling this tech cycle “different” from the dot-com era—markets weren’t convinced.
  • What to watch next: Powell’s December language, the proposed 157% China tariff, and how the government shutdown leaves the Fed “flying blind.”
Fed Cuts, Rates Rise: Why the Market Snapped Back
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