Fed officials' mixed comments on interest rates led to a volatile week for stocks, with all three major averages ending the day down over 1% for the first time in a month.

The money and bond markets may have gotten a little complacent on inflation trends after the 2023 experience. Indeed, the peak readings of 2022 for both headline and core inflation were put in the rearview mirror rather quickly, as price pressures cooled off on an almost monthly basis.

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As we look back at the past year, it's clear that the Federal Reserve's response to the regional bank challenges has had a significant impact on the market. The Bank Term Funding Program, which injected over $300 billion in liquidity, supported a 19% surge in the S&P 500 through July.

Stocks experience a narrow gain, driven by mixed economic news and a rebound in durable goods orders.

The Fed's interest rate policy has been accused of not properly accounting for the amounts of fiscal stimulus that have been occurring in recent years, which could impact the current rally and future economic growth.

The Fed's decision to keep rates steady and signal three rate cuts this year boosted markets, with all three averages closing at record highs.

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The dot plot continues to show three rate cuts this year, the same as in December. However, only three cuts are now expected in 2025 (versus four previously) and the long-run neutral rate was nudged up by a tenth to 2.6%.

The news rattled investors and contributed to stocks closing lower for three consecutive days to end the week, with the energy, financials, and materials sectors all posting gains last week, showing that other groups may join the tech-led rally.

The economy seems to be doing just fine, with GDP around the 3% levels to which we had become accustomed, making it unclear why rate cuts are even necessary, particularly in the US.

The Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged at the March FOMC meeting sparks a waiting game for investors, with the potential for rate cuts later in the year.