The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates by 50 basis points Wednesday at its September Federal Open Market Committee meeting, lowering the federal funds rate to a range of 4.75% to 5%. This marks the first rate cut in over four years and breaks a streak of 12 consecutive months with rates held steady. The decision caught Wall Street analysts off guard who had largely anticipated a more modest 25-basis-point cut. The larger reduction resonated with investor sentiment, which had leaned toward a more aggressive easing approach at the start of the rate-cut cycle. "The Committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent," the FOMC statement says. In its updated Summary of Economic Projections, the Fed marginally revised its forecasts. Economic growth for the current year was lowered to 2%, down from 2.1% in June, while projections for 2025 and 2026 were unchanged. Inflation projections saw downward revisions for both 2024 and 2025, while the unemp...