Closing Bell Closing Bell Overtime: The Fed Keeps Rates Steady; UWM CEO On Housing Impact 6/18/25
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Jun 18, 2025 Sassan Ghahramani, President and CEO of SGH Macro Advisors, joins to discuss how current macroeconomic trends and geopolitical risks impact the markets. He analyzes the Fed's decision to keep interest rates steady and its implications for future economic forecasts. Mat Ishbia, CEO of UWM, provides insights on the mortgage market and housing trends amid rising interest rates. The conversation also touches on the tensions between the U.S. and Iran, exploring their potential market ramifications.
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Beyond Tariffs: Disinflation Factors
- The focus on tariffs as inflation drivers may be overemphasized given stronger disinflationary forces like AI, deregulation, and cost cutting.
- A shadow Fed committee may emerge challenging the current hawkish stance and influencing market expectations.
U.S. Ambivalence on Middle East
- President Trump shows ambivalence toward U.S. military involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict but notes potential necessity to prevent nuclear development.
- Iranian rhetoric is aggressive, but U.S. decisions remain tentative with no final actions decided yet.
Middle East Conflict Escalation Risks
- Israel's military actions and Iran's rigid stance on nuclear enrichment complicate negotiations despite U.S. desires for a deal.
- There's an expectation Israel might strike Iran's Fordow nuclear plant, escalating conflict severity and U.S. involvement.