US Stocks, Bonds Hold Steady Ahead of Fed Chief’s Testimony<br />FED SPEAK: Powell is making his first public comments as head of the Federal Reserve,<br />and markets are intent to find any clues about whether the central bank will pick up the pace in raising interest rates.<br />In his prepared testimony, Powell said the outlook for the U. S. economy remains strong and<br />that recent moves by Congress to stimulate spending should help inflation move up this year.<br />The market got spooked last month when potential signs of inflation strengthened, which raised expectations<br />that the Fed may become more aggressive and knocked stock prices down by 10 percent around the world.<br />The Fed increased rates three times this year, and investors are debating whether this year could see three or four more moves.<br />Investors are waiting to hear from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who is scheduled to give testimony before Congress on monetary policy.<br />NEW YORK — Stocks and bonds held relatively steady in early trading on Tuesday,<br />and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index was wavering between small gains and losses.
