Stocks slipped again Thursday as investors braced for more interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, and the volatility is once again stirring up debates over whether the U.S. economy is headed for a recession.
"Our view right now is that for the next six months the U.S. economy should be okay," said Ahmed Riesgo, chief investment officer for financial services company Insigneo.
He said the strength of the January jobs report has put downward pressure on stocks because it showed resilience in the economy that many investors interpreted as a sign that more rate hikes were coming. Recent reports showing "sticky" inflation have had a similar effect.
These trends increase the odds of a recession, he added, because the uncertainty around inflation makes it more likely the Fed will make a policy mistake.
"Our base case is not a recession," he said. "But when you look a little bit further out over a 12 month period, I think the chances of a mild recession in the United States are very elevated."
He also cited recent comments from Fed officials as evidence for this theory. The nation's top bankers have signaled they are committed to bringing inflation down to 2 percent annually, while also saying hitting that goal effectively requires inducing a recession.
The Food and Drug Administration has announced that the maker of a brand of eye drops linked to an outbreak of fatal bacterial infections failed to follow safety protocols.
Southwest Airlines Co. has announced the return of its "Companion Pass" offer, which allows the airline's "Rapid Rewards" members to designate a companion who can travel with them for free between August 15 and September 30.
German carmaker Volkswagen said it plans to introduce 25 new electric vehicle models through 2030. As that roll out begins in earnest, Pablo Di Si, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, provided Cheddar News with a breakdown of what consumers can expect from the line-up.
The market for rental apartment buildings is tumbling at its fastest-rate since 2009 in the wake of the Great Financial Crisis, according to a Washington Post report.
