By Liz Moyer
Investing.com -- Stocks went on a seesaw ride on Tuesday, with better-than-expected inflation news clashing with fears about interest rates staying higher for longer.
Investors have been cheered by positive economic news that is showing cooling inflation trends. At the same time, there is a fear the Federal Reserve will continue to raise rates and tip the economy into a recession.
The Fed's last scheduled rate decision for the year is due out Wednesday afternoon. The market mostly anticipates a half-percentage-point increase after four meetings in a row when the central bank raised rates by 0.75 percentage points at a time. The easing of the pace anticipated tomorrow doesn't spell the end, however.
What investors want to know is how policymakers are forecasting rates going into next year and over the next couple of years. The so-called dot plot will carry their forecasts for gross domestic output, inflation and unemployment as well. The market anticipates the GDP and inflation numbers will come down while unemployment will rise.
The biggest chance the market will get to hear more about the central bank's thinking is when Chair Jerome Powell meets with reporters in the afternoon, when he is likely to be asked about how much longer rates will stay elevated and what data the Fed is watching to make that decision.
Here are three things that could affect markets tomorrow:
1. FOMC statement
The Federal Open Market Committee makes its decision on rates known at 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT). The press conference with Powell starts at 14:30 and usually lasts an hour or so, live-streamed on the Fed's YouTube channel.
2. Lennar earnings
Homebuilders have been trying to navigate a cooling housing market. Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN) is expected to report earnings per share of $4.88 on revenue of $9.98 billion.
3. Weber earnings
Just days after agreeing to a $3.7 billion take private deal by BDT Capital, Weber Inc (NYSE:WEBR) is due to report for the latest quarter. Analysts see the grill and outdoor equipment maker notching a loss per share of 18 cents on revenue of $209 million.