Enlarge this imageA trader working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City on May 2. Stocks surged on Wednesday Gaylord Perry Jersey after the Fed’s policy meeting.Spencer Platt/Getty Imageshide captiontoggle captionSpencer Platt/Getty ImagesA trader working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City on May 2. Stocks surged on Wednesday after the Fed’s policy meeting.Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesStocks rallied on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point, but ruled out lifting them by larger amounts going forward. The Fed is waging a tough fight against inflation, delivering on Wednesday its biggest rate hike in more than two decades. But investors were relieved after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said policymakers weren’t contemplating hikes larger than half a percentage point at a time, even as he made clear the Fed will continue to raise interest rates.Busine s Here are 3 reasons why stocks are tanking Fears the Fed would be especially aggre sive rocked markets last week, sending shares sharply lower. ” Andrew Suarez Jersey A 75-basis-point increase is not something that the committee is actively considering,” Powell told reporters, when asked if the Fed would consider raising rates by three-quarters of a percentage point. The Dow ended the day up by more than 900 points, and the S&P 500 gained almost 3 percent, with both notching their best day since 2020. Still, the Fed made clear fighting inflation remains its top priority after consumer prices have surged by the most in Barry Bonds Jersey 40 years.Powell said he and his colleagues would actively consider two additional half-point rate increases at their next two meetings in June and July.Enlarge this imageFed Chair Jerome Powell takes questions during a news conference in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday. The Fed earlier raised interest rates by half a percentage point, its biggest hike in more than two decades.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Imageshide captiontoggle captionJim Watson/AFP via Getty ImagesFed Chair Jerome Powell takes questions during a news conference in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday. The Fed earlier raised interest rates by half a percentage point, its biggest hike in more than two decades.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty ImagesThe economy’s uncertain future It’s not only inflation. The Fed is facing great economic uncertainty, from the war in Ukraine to China’s ongoing crackdown after a COVID outbreak. In a note Dave Dravecky Jersey to investors, Bank of America Global Research said the central bank had clearly signaled its intention to be aggre sive fighting inflation, but that that at least it’s “likely done surprising markets for a while.” Markets are likely to remain concerned the Fed could overdo its interest rate hikes, tipping the economy into a rece sion.But Powell expre sed optimism that the central bank can curb inflation without stalling economic growth.”I would say we have a good chance to have a soft, or soft-ish, landing,” Powell said on Wednesday.