Investors brace for key economic indicators, expect Fed rate hikes

David Gura: David Gura is a journalist, anchor, and correspondent at Bloomberg News who co-hosts the daily podcast 'The Big Take,' covering business, economics, and policy stories. He has extensive experience reporting on markets and finance across outlets including NPR and NBC. In the news, he is interviewing Neil Dutta about Federal Reserve expectations alongside Eena Ruffini. Neil Dutta: Neil Dutta is the Partner and Head of Economic Research at Renaissance Macro Research, where he analyzes the US economy, Federal Reserve policy, and global macroeconomic trends. He frequently appears in financial media with data-driven views on economic risks and policy paths. In the news, he shares his assessment that markets will need to incorporate expectations for a faster pace of Federal Reserve tightening. Eena Ruffini: Eena Ruffini is a Bloomberg News anchor and journalist with prior experience at NBC, MSNBC, and CBS, covering a range of topics including business and foreign affairs. She participates in on-air discussions and weekend business programming. In the news, she is part of the interview with Neil Dutta on economic indicators and Federal Reserve tightening. Federal Reserve: The Federal Reserve is the central banking system of the United States responsible for conducting monetary policy, supervising banks, and maintaining financial stability. It uses tools such as interest rate adjustments and inflation targeting to support maximum employment and stable prices. In the news, it is the focus of investor attention ahead of key data releases that could influence its rate decisions. Renaissance Macro: Renaissance Macro Research is an independent firm providing macroeconomic, policy, and technical analysis to institutional clients through proprietary research and data services. Neil Dutta leads its economic research efforts focused on US data and the Federal Reserve. In the news, the firm is represented by Dutta commenting on upcoming economic indicators and Fed policy implications. • The September 30 PCE report is the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge and is expected to show monthly headline inflation of 0.4% and core inflation of 0.3%. • Core PCE was running at 3.3% year over year through July, materially above the Fed’s 2% objective. • Economists expect September nonfarm payrolls to rise by 100,000, down from 162,000 in August. • The unemployment rate is forecast to increase to 4.2% from 4.1%. • The Fed raised its benchmark rate 25 basis points in September to a 3.75%-4% range. • Bank of America expects two additional 25-basis-point hikes before year-end, reinforcing the hawkish outlook described by Neil Dutta.