The long awaited Fed decision arrived with a bang! The Fed surprised many economists and traders with a half percent cut in both the Fed Funds and Discount Rates. Stocks soared higher and enjoyed their largest gain since 2003.

What does the Fed cut mean? Rates on consumer debt, car loans, and Home Equity lines will all benefit. But because Home Loan rates are tied more closely to inflation, it is not uncommon to see less of a reaction…or even an opposite reaction in mortgage rates.
The Fed cut also hurts rates of return on investments, which gives foreign investors less incentive to invest in US securities. This has sent the Dollar much lower against the currency of most major foreign countries. This makes foreign goods more expensive for us to buy, which adds to inflation pressures.

Overall, the Fed cut is good news for the economy, but may nudge inflation a bit higher.

Here are some of the better articles discussing the Fed’s Decision and it’s effect:
Fed Cut Could Bouy Housing Markets
Borrowers Get Small Break From Fed

The real impact of a half-point drop for households is in mortgage products. “That’s true for both fixed-rate mortgages and for adjustable rate loans,” said McBride. Some ARM rates are tied to one-year Treasury yields and homeowners with loans resetting higher this fall could be facing rates of 6.75 percent, rather than 7.5 percent.