New Delhi, Dec. 12 -- S&P 500 Edges Near Record High After Fed's Third Rate Cut of 2025, But Powell's Hawkish Tone and Rare Three-Vote Dissent Signal Turbulent Path Ahead for 2026

Unprecedented Internal Division at the Fed

What distinguished this rate decision from previous cuts was the rare occurrence of three dissenting votes, an unusual display of division within the Federal Open Market Committee that signals mounting tension over the appropriate path for monetary policy. The dissents represented the highest number of opposing votes at a Fed meeting in years, reflecting deep disagreement among policymakers about whether continued rate cuts remain warranted given persistent inflation concerns and robust economic data.

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