The 30-company Philippine composite index closed at 7,155.90, down 19.46 points, or 0.27 percent, while the all-shares index ended at 3,847.96, down by 2.21 points, or 0.06 percent.
Unicapital Inc. also expects the Fed to cut rates in its upcoming meeting. “We believe that the US Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates during its FOMC meeting on Sept. 17 to 18, given concerns about a slowing US economy,” Unicapital said. Meanwhile, Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as traders tried to ascertain how big an expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut would be later in the day, while the dollar held gains against the yen after forecast-beating US data.
Wall Street had a tepid day, with many investors keeping their powder dry until the Fed’s decision and boss Jerome Powell’s post-meeting statement later on Wednesday. “Yet media reports from well-connected journalists over the weekend have made the point that a discussion for a 50-point cut was very much alive.”