In the press conference following the Fed’s decision to keep rates unchanged, Powell hesitated to guide toward a rate in the coming months. He struck a hawkish tone, according to a note by Bank of America’s macroeconomics team, putting a damper on investor hopes that the FOMC’s next meeting in September could bring a rate cut.

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, just days after President Donald Trump made an unusual visit to the central bank, calling for a rate cut. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell advocated for the independence of the Federal Reserve.