Market Brief 17 September, 2024

Good evening, investors and traders! The markets are showing a mixed performance today, with the Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX) up by 0.19% to 19,434.01 and the S&P 500 Index (GSPC) up by a modest 0.05% to 5,635.92. The Federal Reserve's interest rate decision is looming, and traders are on edge, with bets favoring a 50 basis point cut. The retail sales data released today, however, suggests a 25 basis point cut might be more likely, causing gold prices to fall below $2,600. The crypto market is also experiencing volatility, with Bitcoin surging past $60,000 and Ethereum and XRP seeing slight gains. The news surrounding Donald Trump's new crypto project, World Liberty Financial, is generating significant buzz, with the project confirming plans to launch a token.