Dave Sekera with Morningstar Wealth says he "can't see" the Fed doing anything other than an interest rate hike for Wednesday's meeting. As for equities, he believes the S&amp;P 500 (SPX) outside of the Mag 7 is fairly valued, though it comes with the market pricing in growth differentials between 2027 and 2028. Dave tells investors to stick with AI leaders like Nvidia (NVDA), Broadcom (AVGO), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Microsoft (MSFT) while warning against high-fliers like Micron (MU) and SanDisk (SNDK). He then offers a contrarian SpaceX (SPCX) take.

Dave Sekera on Tentative Fed Rate Hike, Sticking with AI Leaders & SPCX Contrarian Take

Scott Ladner of Horizon Investments explains what the market expects from the Fed's upcoming rate hike decision. He also discusses the potential for an AI slowdown, where investors should position themselves—including a surprising take on European equities—and delves into the possibility of AI being regulated as a public utility in the U.S.

Positioning for a Fed Hike and a Potential AI Slowdown

James Demmert says economies across the world are seeing interest rate hikes, not just the U.S. He believes the Fed remains firm on pulling inflation down to 2%, something he doesn't expect incoming inflation data to change. Despite inflation challenges, James makes the case for a fourth-quarter rally, bolstered by AI growth, to close out 2026. James sets a year-end target of 8,100 for the S&amp;P 500 (SPX).

Why James Demmert Backs 8,100 SPX Target Despite AI, Crude & Fed Volatility

"The gold trade could actually be a favorable one," says Kevin Green, who believes bulls can regain if the Fed hikes interest rates in Wednesday's meeting. While unusual, KG also can't take a "game time decision" off the table for the Fed due to Wednesday's retail sales print hitting the wire before its decision. It all comes amid a shaky macro picture with crude oil prices fluctuating between $100 and $105. KG then discusses the Senate's "toss up vote" for the Clarity Act and analyzes price action in Bitcoin.

KG: Rate Hike Bullish for Gold & Bitcoin Slides into Clarity Act Vote

Wall Street is bracing for a more than 90% chance the Fed will raise interest rates Wednesday. Kevin Hincks discusses how he sees the market moving should the FOMC raise rates for September and gauges whether it will start a rate hiking cycle. As for the AI trade, Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang makes a pledge to President Trump that he won't allow an AI slowdown. Kevin also offers his insights on crude oil prices, which were flat ahead of Tuesday's session.

Bracing for Likely Fed Interest Rate Hike, NVDA CEO Pushes Back AI Slowdown

As the Fed begins its interest rate meeting, Brian Jacobsen believes we will get a rate hike even though he thinks the FOMC should hold. He adds that a hike will be more about "symbolism" instead of "substance" to show U.S. investors the Fed remains independent. Brian explains why he sees a hike adding more headwinds for U.S. consumers. In equities, he expects a greater market pullback following rallies across tech during earnings season.

Jacobsen: Tentative Rate Hike About 'Symbolism' Over 'Substance'

Suzanne Porske of Phoenix Financial Group views the current market downturn as a "flash sale" for quality investments, likening it to buying a discounted high-end handbag. She sees dips in Microsoft (MSFT) and Nvidia (NVDA) as buying opportunities, favors companies with proven earnings over fleeting trends, and expects the Fed to hold a steady course.

Market 'Flash Sale?' Suzane Porske on MSFT, NVDA & Strong Fundamentals Beating Flashy Trends

Charles Schwab's Kevin Gordon notes that the last time crude oil touched $105, a sharp downturn began in the commodity's price action. He sees a different story for crude today. That said, he doesn't see a big hit coming to the U.S. economy unless tensions between the U.S. and Iran persist long-term. As for the Fed's interest rate decision, Kevin explains how "relatively strong" nominal GDP sets a floor for rates even as the 10-year Treasury yield taps 5%.

GDP Buoys U.S. Economy Despite Fed's Likely Rate Hike, 10-Year Yield Taps 5%

Chuck Lieberman of Advisors Capital Management discusses the FOMC's upcoming rate decision amid current inflation and strong growth, and explores AI's impact on the economy and market breadth. He highlights REITs like Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI) and Healthpeak Properties, favors money center banks Citigroup (C) and Wells Fargo (WFC) for their recovery stories, and contrasts the lower-risk appeal of oil pipelines against AI investments.

Chuck Lieberman on Fed's Rate Decision, Oil Pipeline Risks & Banking Ball Case

Kevin Hincks discusses Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei's call that AI is growing too fast and its impact on markets. As Kevin highlights, some Big Tech names are still higher even though shares of Nvidia (NVDA), AMD Inc. (AMD), and Micron (MU) slid on Amodei's commentary. He turns to crude oil's "snapback" rally following a Friday selloff after key oil infrastructure was struck over the weekend. Kevin then looks ahead to this week's FOMC interest rate meeting and makes the case for a hold in September.

Dario Amodei's AI Safety Call Impacts to Tech, Fed's Interest Rate Decision

Bo Diamond of Caisson Capital Partners discusses the latest CPI report and its implications for Fed rate hikes, focusing on the August monthly core number and its impact on the probability of a hike. He also analyzes the yield curve and how current restrictive rates are affecting various sectors, with a particular focus on commercial real estate and data centers.

CPI, Rate Hike Odds, and the Sectors Feeling the Pinch

"I don't think the Fed should be hiking" in September, says Ted Thatcher on interest rates, arguing that a hike won't shape the inflation picture. A resolution or sharp cooldown in the U.S.-Iran war is what he believes will offer true relief. Ted explains why crude oil prices remain the most important gauge for inflation and ways oil serve as an unsung beneficiary to the AI trade. He offers his outlook for the rest of the year and discusses why the S&amp;P 500 (SPX) would be well above 8,000 if not for the war.

Ted Thatcher Sees Fed Holding Rates, SPX Near 9,000 Without U.S.-Iran War

Breaking down Federal Reserve decisions and what they mean for markets, investors, and the economy.

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