The Fed Just Ended the Easy Money Era

The Fed Just Ended the Easy Money Era The Fed just raised rates for the first time in over three years, and central banks worldwide are following. Here's what the end of easy money means for you… Written by Larry Benedict Published on Sep 24, 2026 A major shift is underway at the most important global economic institutions. For years, central banks across developed nations have kept interest rates low and monetary policy loose. Low rates translate to cheap credit and plentiful liquidity. That’s helped fuel the AI infrastructure spending boom that’s propping up the economy. Cheap credit is also the perfect backdrop to fuel risky assets – everything from AI stocks to crypto and blockbuster IPOs. But the liquidity and credit outlook is slowly starting to change. Interest rates on the long end of the yield curve have been rising rapidly. Now central bank policy rates are creeping higher as well. Here’s why that marks an end of the easy money era – and what it means for asset prices everywhere…

Recommended Links Have Jeff Brown and Larry Benedict Lost Their Minds? Larry Benedict went 20 straight years on Wall Street without a losing year. Jeff Brown recommended Bitcoin at $240 and Nvidia in 2016. Now they've issued the biggest warning of their careers: The U.S. dollar will break on Wednesday, October 7, at 1:00 p.m. ET – on a deadline set by the federal government… It could lose up to a third of its value. Or even half… And the money doesn't vanish. It moves into a market that could have potentially handed you over $410,000 the last time something like this happened. On Wednesday, September 30, at 8:00 p.m. ET, they share all the proof, free. Click here to reserve your seat for free. (When you click the link, your email address will automatically added to guest list) SpaceX Investor Says This Is 5x Moore’s Law Everyone is too distracted by the mainstream AI trade – chasing every bit of news about SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Nvidia – all while missing where the real wealth will be made. Porter Stansberry, CEO & Founder of Porter & Co., don’t want you to miss it. That’s why he's laying everything out for you here. Ignition Point is now available to stream here.

Why Central Banks Are Reversing Course Investors pore over central bank decisions and contemplate what they mean for the rate outlook – and for good reason. Monetary policy shapes everything from the economy to all corners of the capital markets. Interest rates impact borrowing costs for businesses and consumers alike. When rates are low, cheap credit tends to boost the economy and the earnings outlook for corporations. Low interest rates also encourage the use of leverage to speculate on stocks, property, crypto, and so on. The AI trade and this current bull market kicked off in late 2022, alongside the launch of ChatGPT. Central banks then began unwinding their post-pandemic rate hikes over the following few years. Loose monetary policy hit a peak in late 2025, when 85% of central banks around the world were cutting interest rates. But since then, a new shift is underway. It’s one that is gaining steam and could present headwinds for investors as this era of easy money fades… Tune in to Trading With Larry Live Each week, Market Wizard Larry Benedict goes live to share his thoughts on what’s impacting the markets. Whether you’re a novice or expert trader, you won’t want to miss Larry’s insights and analysis. Even better, it’s free to watch. Visit us on YouTube to catch the latest! The Fed’s First Rate Hike in Three Years Last week, the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for the first time in over three years. It was a unanimous decision to raise interest rates by a quarter point to a range of 3.75-4.00%. Comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh hint that more rate increases are in store. The Fed wants to tame inflation while the economy is holding up. But the Fed is hardly the only central bank making a move. The European Central Bank and Bank of Japan raised rates at their September meetings as well. Others like the Bank of England and Bank of Canada kept rates on hold but are sounding more hawkish because of inflation. The percentage of central banks around the world hiking rates stood at just 15% a year ago. Now that figure stands at 33% and could rise further still. The last time a similar proportion of central banks were hiking rates was in late 2021. That was just ahead of the peak in the S&P 500 heading into 2022’s bear market. But it wasn’t just stocks seeing volatility back then. Everything from bonds to precious metals and cryptocurrencies took a hit as central banks removed the punch bowl from the party. As the Fed and other central banks around the world move to increase interest rates, the punch bowl is going away again, and the effects could be felt across the market’s most popular trades. That’s one reason my colleague Jeff Brown and I are preparing for our emergency briefing next week. Most people assume that their money is safe. But the dynamics we see at play are creating warning signs we don’t want you to miss… The dollar itself is in danger, and during our briefing, we’ll explain what we see coming – and how you can prepare. In fact, if you’re ready, you could turn this threat into a windfall. To attend on September 30 at 8 p.m. ET, all you need to do is RSVP here with one click. I’ll see you there! Regards, Larry Benedict Editor, Trading With Larry Benedict Get Instant Trade Alerts on Mobile! Click the icon below from your mobile device to download The Opportunistic Trader app today for one-tap access to trade alerts, issues, and model portfolios for all of Larry’s services. Available in the app store on Android and iPhone. More stories like this Read the latest analysis on hot growth stocks, and market-moving developments How We Made 21% on Silver (SLV) in Just Three Days We banked a 21% gain on an SLV call option in just three days by waiting patiently for a pullback rather than chasing silver's rally… Sep 23, 2026 • 3 min read You Don’t Need to Be First to Call the Market Top The Fed just hiked rates. Yields are near 5%. Oil prices are high. Yet stocks won't fall. Here’s why betting against this market is a costly mistake… Sep 22, 2026 • 3 min read This Semiconductor Chart Level Is the Key to the AI Trade Semiconductor stocks keep stalling at one key level. Here's why SMH's 50-day moving average is the line to watch for the entire AI trade… Sep 21, 2026 • 3 min read 1125 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201 www.opportunistictrader.com To ensure our emails continue reaching your inbox, please add our email address to your address book. 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