The Federal Reserve is about to do something big again! At 2 AM on May 8, the interest rate decision, this time bomb, will go off on time.

Market data is glaringly clear: 97.2% of people bet that interest rates will remain unchanged, while only 2.8% are daringly betting on an interest rate cut surprise. But don't be fooled by these numbers; the futures market has already exploded—lots of funds are crazily betting on three consecutive rate cuts in the second half of the year!

Now the entire financial community is focused on two numbers: April's non-farm employment (an increase of 177,000 people) and core PCE inflation. If the inflation data plays tricks again, the first rate cut will definitely be postponed from June to July, and the interest rate range of 4.25%-4.5% will have to bear for another three months. To be honest, as long as there is no rate hike, it counts as a win; a rate cut, even if delayed, is still a good thing!

Investors need to keep their eyes wide open: the rate hike cycle has already turned the page, and now the Federal Reserve holding steady is a victory. The market has already fully priced in the expectations of a rate cut, and even if the timeline is pushed back, the stock market can still thrive. After all, at the pivotal moment of a shift in monetary policy, expectations are more valuable than reality!