Beige Book brings economic tidings: Here’s what to expect from the Fed

DataTrek Research analysts observe that many investors are mystified as to why the Federal Reserve would want to cut near-term interest rates in the midst of a strong U.S. economy. They argue that you need to look no further than the Fed's latest Beige Book for an explanation. The biggest takeaway from the latest report is rising concerns about trade wars from the Fed's business contacts across the country. Here are DataTrek's views, edited: Given that the Beige Book is released two weeks prior to central bank meetings, this report will be top of mind for the Fed's rate-setting committee when making its monetary policy decisions on July 31. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has been vocal about the importance of this report. The bottom line here is that it's not a matter of "if," but ...To read the rest of Jon Markman’s article, click here...