Press Release: Fed Signals Triple Hike, Markets Brace for Test

Policy communications reviewed for this press release confirm the Fed has rarely stopped at a single rate move once a hiking cycle begins, and current guidance points to up to three increases before year-end.

Economists cited in the briefing argue the second or third hike typically exposes the most fragile pockets of the market — credit spreads and rate-sensitive equities are named as early stress indicators.

For traders, the press release underscores that positioning ahead of each FOMC date matters more than reacting after the fact, given historical volatility clustering around sequential hikes.